Living life on the road as a traveling musician is no piece of cake, but it is a challenge the orchestra will get a taste of this spring as they journey through Austria, Poland and Slovakia on tour, showing off the musical skills they have carefully cultivated.
Orchestra teacher James Gross and the booster club have been meticulously mapping out the itinerary since 2023 down to the last detail. It is $5000 for nine days including flights, hotel rooms, meals, venue and instrument rentals, sightseeing and bus travel.
“The precedent at South is when a student is in orchestra they will take part in a performance tour every other year, one domestic and one international,” Gross said.
According to Gross, the main goal is to give the orchestra a camaraderie boost as its members travel, eat and perform together. Concertmaster Emilia Koper ’26, the daughter of Polish immigrants, anticipates a homecoming.
“I’m incredibly excited that I’ll get to be surrounded and speak my mother tongue, that I’ll see my family and that they will get to see me perform,” Koper said.
Cellist Penelope Robinson ’28, one of the few freshmen in the symphony orchestra, said she just wants to have fun with her friends while exploring a new place.
“I like the music selection so far because it’s catchy and challenging but still playable,” Robinson said. “I love travelling with my friends.”
Gross hopes that under his leadership, his students will have not only a memorable experience but also a solidified work ethic that will bring on the grit.
“It’s more than just walking out on stage and playing a violin,” Gross said. “Years of practice, failure, progress and hard work go into becoming a musician on any instrument.”
