By Brandi Watters
The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON, Ind. —
Local students joined others from around the state and took Hoosier music to an international stage this summer.
As part of the Indiana Ambassadors of Music program, a handful of Madison County students traveled to England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, touring the countries while putting on concerts for European citizens.
According to the program’s founder, Joseph Scagnoli, 130 students from Indiana took part in the trip.
Students were selected for the trip based on nominations from their own band and choir directors.
Susan Finger, director of bands at Highland Junior High School, led the choral group for the entire state.
Students from Madison County who participated in the program were Allen Doty, Elizabeth Miller and Justice Martin of Highland High School; Katelyn Miller and Kasey Mock of Pendleton Heights High School; Loren Burke, Kaitlin Klein and Brian Thomason of Elwood Community High School; and Brady Henry of Liberty Christian School.
For Doty, the June 18 trip was his second endeavor with the ambassadors program.
Two years ago, Doty joined Finger and other students as they toured the same cities and performed different music.
Doty said he was most impressed by Rothenburg, Germany, a medieval city with walls from ancient times surrounding the hamlet.
Finger said the Europeans who stop in and listen to the band and choir performances are entertained, often clapping and dancing along with the music.
The songs played on the tour included an ’80s medley that kicked off with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
Each student paid for his or her own trip, Finger said, and students were encouraged to take in the local culture as much as possible.
“I said ‘don’t eat any McDonald’s or Burger King,” Finger said.
In addition to touring classic attractions, the students also visited the Dachau concentration camp in Germany.
“We wanted the students to have a real experience,” she said.
Some students were visibly upset by the visit, she said.
Elizabeth Miller, 16, said she enjoyed the London leg of the trip most.
“I really liked the atmosphere there. It was very historical but it wasn’t too old. It was just a good blend of modern and historical,” she said.
Miller and Doty both agreed they gained numerous friends from across the state while on the world tour.
Contact Brandi Watters, 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com
