Over Spring Break, the St. Pius X band traveled to Austria and Germany, where students had the opportunity to perform and explore a variety of historic locations. During the week, 24 students and nine chaperones traveled to cities such as Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna. They performed for a local high school and visited sites such as the Mauthausen Memorial and locations connected to The Sound of Music. The trip allowed students to experience new cultures while representing their school through music.
“Every four years the band takes a big trip somewhere. This time we decided to go to Austria because it’s such a major place for classical music, and we wanted to give our students the opportunity to perform in Salzburg and Vienna,” said Director of Bands Ian LaBreck.
Planning the trip took around two years, with one of the biggest challenges being transporting instruments overseas. Despite this, the band successfully performed two concerts. During the performances, students played a mix of popular and traditional band music, along with a well-known Austrian piece to close the concert.
Students also made many memorable memories throughout the trip.
“One of my favorite memories was standing in a palace, looking outside, and seeing it snowing,” said senior Tori Mallory.
Sophomore Henry German said his favorite part of the trip was “either playing for the local high school students and getting to talk to them after or going to the amusement park on the last day.”
Traveling also came with challenges and funny moments. From rushing through an airport to make a connecting flight to dealing with a last-minute venue change, students made lasting memories together. Despite the long bus rides, many said the time passed quickly through conversations and spending time together.
Overall, the trip gave students more than just a performance experience.
“I hope that they love traveling and meeting other people and having that cultural experience,” LaBreck said. “It helps make them more resilient musicians.”
The trip was a success and gave students the chance to grow both musically and personally while representing St. Pius X abroad.
