DCYO Tour ’24 Update #2: Grüß dich, Vienna!

After a very full and exciting second day in Munich, we enjoyed a leisurely day of travel by bus from Munich across the border into Austria…all while enjoying breathtaking views of the surrounding Alps and – at least on bus 1 – singing along to The Sound of Music :)

Crossing into lower Austria, we took a few hours to stop at the incredible baroque Benedictine monastery at Melk, which is located near the Wachau valley along the Danube river. We had the opportunity to tour the extensive grounds and view precious relics as well as the monastery’s incredible library, which houses over 100,000 books including many rare medieval manuscripts as well as an extensive music archive.

Our first full day in Vienna was a classical music lover’s dream from start to finish. We started the morning with a visit to the Esterhazy Palace, where Franz Joseph Haydn composed some of greatest works over a nearly thirty year period. Lucky for us, we arrived just in time for a special performance in the beautifully ornate Haydnsalle by the Haydn Quartet featuring works not only by their namesake but also Czerny, Puccini, and Verdi.

In the afternoon, we split up into groups to visit two other interesting musical landmarks in Vienna: the Haus der Musik, an interactive music discovery museum, and the Beethoven Pasqualatihaus, where Beethoven lived for over several periods during his lifetime. Haus der Musik offered many interesting exhibits highlighting the lives of major Austrian composers, the physics of sound production, and a history of the Vienna Philharmonic. The highlight may have been the opportunity for our students to virtually conduct the famous orchestra and get a taste of what it’s like to be on the podium!

Finally, it was concert time at the breathtaking Votivkirche. We were grateful for the torrential rain that arrived *after* our musicians made the short walk from the Wiener Rathauskeller and stopped well before the orchestra delivered a powerful repeat performance of its tour program. You can check out a clip of YO’s performance of the second movement of Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony” on our YouTube channel. A well deserved post-concert dinner in one of the Rathauskeller’s ornate banquet rooms wrapped up a very long but rewarding day.

We were lucky to enjoy a bonus day in Vienna – time to rest, relax, and enjoy the beautiful weather that finally arrived as we caught a break in the heat. The morning started with a cruise down the Danube and was followed up with more sightseeing and free time around the historic capital city. Time for art, shopping, and exploring Vienna’s rich cafe culture before taking in a performance of works by Vivaldi in the Karlskirche, widely considered one of the city’s most beautiful Baroque churches dating back to 1737.

A special thank you needs to be said to our two wonderful tour guides, Theresia and Leanna! They have been our tireless, enthusiastic, thoughtful leaders throughout this tour experience, and we have been so lucky to be in their care. And now after a restorative day of rest in Vienna, it’s on to our final destination of the tour: Prague!

 

DCYO Tour ’24 Update #1: Servus, Munich!

YO poses in front of the new town hall in Munich’s historic Marienplatz.

YO was prepared to turn up the heat on tour, but arriving in Germany in the middle of record high temperatures AND the Euro quarter final match made for an exciting start to our travels! The 71 student-strong orchestra was more than up for the challenge, enjoying the many beautiful sights around the Bavarian capital during our brief two day stay in the city.

Sightseeing in central Munich.

We tasted a variety of delicious local specialities, including the many delights of the Viktualienmarkt, and enjoyed lunch at the famous Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, which was originally built in 1589. Among the many famous composers who called Munich home, both Mozart and Orlando di Lasso both lived around the corner from the Hofbräuhaus at various points.

Touring the extensive Viktualienmarkt in central Munich where everything from fresh produce to specialty pastries are on offer.
Dinner at an authentic local Bavarian restaurant where we tried everything from pancake soup to classic schnitzel.

As usual, the highlight of our stay in Munich was YO’s opening concert, which took place at the grand Church of St. Rupert. The orchestra performed for an enthusiastic crowd of local concert lovers as well as a formidable contingent of enthusiastic DCYOP family members and alums.

Performing at the Church of St. Rupert which was built in 1901-1903.
The proud YO brass representing at St. Rupert’s.

Enjoy a few excerpts from the YO’s first performance of the tour featuring Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade and Franz Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony No. 7 on YouTube, and stay tuned for updates from our next stop….Austria!

Bon Voyage, YO!

We hope you can join us for today’s Bon Voyage concert as our Youth Orchestra musicians prepare to depart for their tour of Germany, Austria, and Czechia in just two days!

YO will be performing works from their tour repertoire including pieces by Nielsen, Schubert, Dett, Coleridge-Taylor, and Walker. We are also thrilled to be joined by guest speaker, John Wineglass, an Emmy Award-winning composer and proud alumnus of DCYOP, as well as beloved Conductor Laureate and fellow alumnus, Ken Whitley.

The concert will begin at 7pm today, Saturday, July weekend 6th, at UDC’s Theater of the Arts. Please join us for a special pre-concert reception to celebrate this exciting adventure for our students, and to celebrate all the alums of DCYOP who have helped bring our mission to life over the last 64 years.

You can find the full digital program for today’s concert here.