"Pride of the Plains" performs at Vatican |
| Posted by Administrator on Jan 21 2009 at 3:28 PM |
Photo courtesy of Chancellor Doug Kristensen
Band members perform the classy cubano step for thousands of Italians on the streets in Rome, Italy.
By Stacy Laue
Antelope Staff
Thousands listened to the enchanting music of "American Band" and "Ode to Joy" on New Year's Day in Rome, Italy. Thousands more were lured by the music to follow its sound.
At the head of this large parade of music lovers was none other than UNK's "Pride of the Plains" Marching Band. On Dec. 28, 2008, 95 students, family members, and staff members left Nebraska to travel to the historic country of Italy.
This is not the first time the band has performed in Rome, Neal Schnoor, director of bands and director of the UNK marching band said. "Three years ago we submitted audition materials and received an invitation to perform by Vatican officials. Due to the success of our first trip, the band again received an invitation to perform this year," he said.
Schnoor believes that every undergraduate student should experience life abroad. "Four years ago I looked for trips to a destination that was rich in history and culture, and I cannot think of a richer cultural experience than you can find in Italy," he said.
The group met in Omaha on Dec. 28 and then broke into three different flight groups. While two groups flew straight to Rome, one group was fortunate to have an eight-hour layover in Germany.
The lucky group of 30 was given a few hours to leave the airport and explore the city of Munich.
"I was so excited to go to Germany," said junior music education and German education major Kelci Fulton, "because not only have I been there before, but I can also speak the language and it was fun to experience both with my friends."
The UNK band stayed in the town of Sorrento, where they held their first performance on Dec. 30.
The band was given a police escort while parading through the city to where they gave a stationary performance at the town center. Schnoor estimated a total of 20,000 people watched the UNK Band.
The large crowd danced with the band during some tunes and clapped after the band performed the Italian song "Va Pensiero."
"It seemed like they were having just as much fun as we were," said Kara Dacey, a junior business marketing major from Bellevue.
While the band stayed in Sorrento, they visited the ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii, which was covered by volcanic ash from the still active volcano, Mt. Vesuvius, and Naples.
Dr. Gary Davis, professor of music, felt the trip was a very educational experience for students.
"By visiting places outside the U.S., I think you learn to really appreciate what we have in the United States," Davis said.
The students were very excited when they left the southern region of Italy behind to stay in Rome. "Rome is like a walking museum. We got to see the cathedrals, ruins, and the Vatican," Anthony Ford, a sophomore music business major from Detroit, Mich. said.
As 200,000 people crowded into St. Peter's Square on New Year's Day, the 71 member band warmed up with a few tunes before receiving a blessing from the Pope. Afterwards, the band made history for the second time as being the only American band to perform in the New Years Day parade in Rome twice.
Both Schnoor and Davis agree that the performances were very unique and exciting for the band. Schnoor estimated that nearly 75,000 people were following the UNK band.
"The highlight for the New Years Parade was the realization that the audience was not comprised just of Italians, but was truly International," Schnoor said.
"So many people were taking pictures/videos and most were holding cell phones up or sending snap shots taken on their phones. I was so proud of the band members and their ability to adjust to unique changes while performing during both performances."
Ashley Lawton, junior music education and performance major from Aurora, thought her experience in the Rome parade was something she would never forget.
"There were people stepping out in front of me, literally getting in my way as I was marching, simply because they were trying to take pictures and really get an understanding of the marching band," Lawton said.
Schnoor explained that there is a unique difference between an American band and an Italian band, which is why the UNK band might have attracted such a large audience.
"There are many differences including uniforms, instrumentation including our unique wind instruments, drumline, and colorguard, marching execution, and our musical selection," he said.
The band was also fortunate to have two special members from UNK traveling with them.
Chancellor Doug Kristensen and Athletic Director Jon McBride, along with their families, toured Italy with the band.
"I think they had a great time. They really had the opportunity to see the band as a type of family and we were always helping each other, making sure that no one got lost or separated from the many groups we were in," Davis said.
Many members of the band worked hard to pay for the trip, and without other funding, said Schnoor, the price would have been much higher. Thanks to the help of Chancellor Kristensen, SVCAA Murray, FAH Dean Jurma and the University Foundation, the band was able to keep the costs down and enjoy a memory filled week in Italy.
The band arrived safely back in Nebraska on Jan, 2, 2009 after a few flight delays and only one missing instrument, Schnoor said. He hopes to continue planning trips overseas for the band.
Davis felt that the overall success of the Italy trip lay with the band itself.
"The key to a wonderful band trip is having a band that is talented, flexible, willing to always stay positive, and want to help each other be successful and have fun. I am certainly proud to one of the band directors of this exceptional university band."
