After arriving safely in Hamburg, the tour performances started first thing that next morning at an elementary school. The group started by performing for 20 minutes for the children. Many of them recognized the first piece they played since they had studied it in their music classes. After the performance, the group split up into instrument groups at different stations throughout the school. The children rotated and listened to each music group and filled out a form about what the instrument sounded like, such as what kind of weather does the tuba sound like.
After a boat tour of the harbor and a bus tour of the city, it was time to load in for the first concert.
The concert was held in the Stake Center in Hamburg where they have been running a music concert series for years as part of their outreach to the community. The audience was full to capacity. There were 300 people in attendance. As the group finished the last notes of Stars and Stripes forever, the audience erupted into applause and quickly rose to their feet. It was a great start to the tour.
The second day on tour saw the group visiting Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp near Berlin. Here many of the students were touched by their first experience with the atrocities of the camps.
The night of this second day culminated in the group attending a sold-out performance of the Berlin Philharmonic, a symphony that many consider the best in the world. Not only did they hear the symphony but they were able to see Gustavo Dudamel conduct the orchestra. He is considered one of the top conductors in the world. The students found this concert to be an educational experience and a highlight of the tour that will not soon be forgotten.
On Saturday, the group traveled to Freiberg, Germany to perform as part of the city's 850th anniversary. The church asked the group to perform for this celebration to help build relationships with this important city which is home to the first temple behind the iron curtain. The performance began with a presentation from the temple president to the city with a check for 8,500 Euros (a multiple of 850 years) to help with the city's efforts to help families in need. As a result of the event, the bishop of the Freiberg ward was invited to be on the city's council that is coordinating the efforts to help local families.
The symphony is very happy to have been a part of several successful events such as these already on tour.
Source: Performing Arts Management