On the Road with the Asian Youth Orchestra

The Young Euro Classic is another well-known music festival in Europe. Held in Berlin annually each summer, it is an event that brings together "tomorrow's musicians" from the best youth orchestras from all corners of the world, based on the belief that shared experiences are invaluable as is the sharing of differences. Its special focus for its 18th season this year is 20th-century music and violin concertos. Our concert at the festival tonight was held at the Konzerthaus Berlin, a neo-classical hall on the Gendarmenmarkt which is a square in the city's central district. It is the home of the resident orchestra Konzerthausorchester Berlin. As is Japan's Tokyo Opera City where the AYO performed almost four weeks ago, this German concert hall is considered acoustically to be in the world's top ten best musical venues. Because today's performance was to be filmed and streamed live for people all over the world to see, we all made sure those

All in all, our bus ride from Lucerne across the Swiss border to Italy's Bolzano took seven hours. From here, we made our way to Merano, passing through sprawling vineyards that extended all the way into town. Located at the entrance of the Passeier Valley in northern Italy and surrounded by mountains, it was made famous as a South Tyrolian resort of healing baths and gardens by Austrian aristocrats starting in the late 1980s. Here, the majority of the population speaks German. Our goal here is to take part in the town's summer highlight, the Merano Music Festival. The Festival, held annually, features diversity with music and artists from around the world. This summer it will be held for the 32nd time. Our hall tonight is the town's symbolic Kurhaus, an ornate building featuring a portico, a porch supported by columns, that leads to the entrance. Allegorical statues decorate the structure's art nouveau facade. The original west wing was built in 1874. At

Lucerne, on a beautiful lakeside with a view of Mt. Piatus and the Swiss Alps, is a city that enjoys a long tradition of culture and music. Each summer culminates with the hosting of the famous Lucerne Festival. The Festival has its origins back in Triebechen’s “Concert de Gala” at the gardens of Richard Wagner’s villa. The concert back then in 1938 was conducted by Arturo Toscanini, who formed an orchestra with members of different orchestras and soloists from around Europe. It is the sentiment that the Lucerne Festival keeps very much intact today. Through August and September each year, it celebrates classical music, featuring resident ensembles and star soloists alongside guest performances of the likes of the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic. A hundred or so music events are held at the Culture and Congress Centre (KKL) located on the shore of Lake Lucerne. So, imagine how honoured we were that the Asian Youth Orchestra, too, held a place at this world-

Up, up, and up. Our bus ride of endless swaying uphill along the winding roads of the Amalfi Coast finally ended at Ravello Belvedere of Villa Rufolo, our destination in Italy. What unfolded before our eyes was magical: a stage built out from the glorious mountains over the glistening waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The Belvedere looks out over a jaw-dropping panorama. the stage, built out over the sea, is re-constructed each year for the festivities. So eager we were to rush out and climb up the stairs to the stage where the AYO would perform tonight. We wanted to check and see for real how this stage was set, jutting out as if an overhang with the sea right below and around us. We were both awestruck and thrilled! Then suddenly a concern set in as time for acoustic rehearsals approached. The sun was high above us, pouring sunlight directly on the stage. When exposed to heat and humidity, an instrument’s wood expands and the glue that binds its seams can melt, res

Here we are in Spain. As the orchestra played the last note of Shostakovich’s violin concerto tonight in San Sebastian, thunders of applause broke in the concert hall. Buoyed by the enthusiasm, the conductor and soloist beamed ear to ear. Maestro Judd reached off-stage behind the curtain and gestured animatedly, “They were absolutely magnificent!” Indeed AYO’s second performance in Spain was a huge success, enchanting the audience in San Sebastian as they fell in love with the orchestra. There were delighted smiles everywhere in the packed Kursaal Event Hall. The concert hall, surrounded by tall regal buildings under a cool, grey sky, overlooks the calm waters of the Bay of Biscay. A giant banner hung from the building’s facade, with space dedicated to the AYO among the featured performances of the month. We liked seeing that very much. It was two days earlier that we had arrived in Bilbao from Toulouse, settling into the Meliá Hotel. Our first conce

Toulouse, nicknamed la ville rose because rose-pink terracotta is used everywhere, bonjour! We arrived in this French city yesterday evening, after a 12-hour bus ride. Our hotel is conveniently close to the sixth busiest airport in France. Its contemporary facade is reminiscent of a movie set. Inside the lobby, our AYO red shirts we all wear when traveling are a perfect match to the stylish bright red couches and curtains used for the decor. Our day started early with buttery French croissants and a delicious assortment of creamy scrambled eggs, cheeses, and meats. Soon we were on our way to visit Airbus at its headquarters. Its corporate complex is expansive, a city in itself, complete with the Airbus Leadership University used for training and conferences. These and other facilities including production lines, hangars, and testing and technical centers sprawl over an area that seems endless. Upon arrival, we were guided out on to the tarmac. What a thrill to see a giant Cathay

The bus sped through roads, unhesitant at entering countless rotunda , circular junctions, where road traffic flows consistently counter-clockwise as if on a merry-go-round. We finally arrived at our destination, Teatro Remondini which is a performing arts theater in Bassano del Grappa. Although clear skies, the forecast warned of a storm later in the evening. A quick decision was made to switch plans: we will perform not outdoors as planned but move indoors to a smaller, cozier hall. Brass players warming up This evening, the first concert in Europe this World Tour was off to a good start. It was Strauss and Beethoven, with Mr. Pontzious conducting first. As if at perfect timing, rumblings of thunder fell offering nature’s perfect theatrics to complement the power of AYO’s music on stage. As lightning and rain pelted down on rooftops, showers of bravi rose from a delighted audience. After intermission, Mr. Judd took the baton, this time for Mahler. Our trumpet p

After three full days of rehearsing in the idyllic countryside of Rovato, we will shortly be on our way to Bassano del Grappa to perform at our first concert in Europe. Curtains will go up at 9:00 p.m. and butterflies signaling our excitement are in the air. Reflecting back on the three days here, we are reminded of how blessed we are to be working with three wonderful conductors - Mr. Bamert in addition to Mr. Judd and Mr. Pontzious. They push the orchestra to reach up to the sky for heights never imagined possible to reach. With each being an artist of different flare and style, we are being inspired more than threefold. And the sectional faculty teachers, whom we saw back with us in our Rehearsal Camp days in Taiwan and Hong Kong, are our treasured mentors in the art of making music. How precious is our time with them. Meantime logistics is at work. Early this morning, general manager Mr. Lau with our travel advisor Mr. Peterson called a tour briefing for all. Some o