Final concert
March 13, 2009
Today we got to sleep in and didn't have to be on the bus until 11.
It was glorious! We drove to Chicago and had a few hours to walk
around. My friends and I went to look at The Bean and then we walked
up and down Michigan Avenue to do some window shopping. We got back
to the bus at 4:45 and drove to the Harold Washington Public
Library. What a gorgeous building! The auditorium was beautiful and
there were a lot of people in the audience. The concert went very
well, and was a very nice way to end the first ever Monmouth Winds
tour!
Milwaukee
March 12, 2009
After getting up at 4:15 and being on the bus by 5:30 am for the
trip to Milwaukee, everyone was very quiet and slept until about 9
am. We were almost to Milwaukee when I woke up, and upon arrival we
played at the Milwaukee High School of the Performing Arts. There
were a few students interested in Monmouth College, specifically in
the Physics program. After the concert we checked into our hotel and
got ready to go play at the Charles Allis Museum of Art. The museum
was gorgeous, and we even got a tour of the museum during the down
time. The concert did not have a very large audience, but Mr. Barnes
(a very important trustee) was there, so it was nice to play for
him. When we got back to the hotel, my friends and I ordered pizza
and then went for a walk to explore the part of Milwaukee we were
in. We were very close to Marquette University, so I got to look at
that campus as well. Overall, it was a good, albeit, tiring, day.
Lewistown School
March 11, 2009
Today we traveled to Lewistown School and performed for a group of
students K-8. The concert went very well, and during "A Lincoln
Celebration," a collection of three of Lincoln's favorite songs,
Professor Richter asked students to come and conduct the band. My
favorite was this little girl who was probably in Kindergarten. She
conducted a very rousing rendition of "Oh Susannah!" After the
school we went to Peoria to play in the concert hall at Illinois
Central College. That concert went well also, and once we got home
everyone went straight to bed for another early morning.
Mt. Pleasant High School
March 10, 2009
Today we went to Mt. Pleasant High School and performed for the
symphonic and concert bands. The school was much bigger than any high
school I've ever been in (including my own, which was pretty big) and
the band director there was very nice. I think that there were some
people interested in the college, which is very exciting! The
performances went well and then we drove home to spend the remainder of
the afternoon on campus. I personally took a nap, which was much needed!
Our concert in the Capitol Building
March 9, 2009
Today we traveled to Springfield, IL, to play in the Capitol Building rotunda.
I’ve never been to Springfield before because I’m from Washington State, but the
capitol is beautiful! Even on an overcast day the building is very impressive.
Before the concert we got a tour of the building, and saw the rooms that house
the State House of Representatives and the State Senate. The concert went very
well and there were a lot of people there – alumni and others – to watch us
play. The sound in the rotunda was amazing. I wish we could play there for every
concert!
Tour
kick off
March 8, 2009
We kicked off our tour with a concert at Faith United Presbyterian Church
tonight. There were a lot of people there and everyone really liked our concert!
We’re celebrating Lincoln’s Bicentennial with pieces such as “A Lincoln
Celebration” which contains Lincoln’s favorite songs – Oh Susannah, Nobody Knows
the Trouble I See, and Columbia, Gem of the Ocean – as well as a piece written
specifically for this tour titled “In Lincoln’s Day.” Tomorrow we’re going to
Springfield, IL, to play in the Capitol Building.