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Band members planning summer trip to Europe
Five Fort Scott High School band students will take the trip of a lifetime next summer.
In June, FSHS senior Rachel French, junior Kellen Wheeler, sophomore Patrick Fox and freshmen Blake Cowan and Garrett Baugher will take part in a goodwill tour of seven European countries as part of the Kansas Music Ambassadors program.
FSHS band instructor James Fox will also go on the trip that will include stops in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, among other countries. The students will make the trip due in large part to their recent displays of citizenship and musicianship.
The two-week long trip will be more than a pleasure cruise, however, as the students will join more than 450 other Kansas band students to perform in various large European venues.
Fox said he hopes the students will learn about cultural diversity on the trip, as well as take the opportunity to showcase their musical talents.
"I want them to see the different cultures, the way another country lives," Fox said. "They'll be playing in some pretty big venues. I think it's going to be a great experience for them to play with some of the top kids in the state."
Fox said the students were nominated for the trip by a panel of area band directors based on good citizenship and good musicianship. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius then invited the nominated students to participate in the Kansas Music Ambassadors program.
Before heading across the Atlantic Ocean, the entire Kansas Music Ambassadors ensemble will spend a week practicing at Wichita State University.
As would be imagined, the students are more than excited for the journey across Europe.
"I can't wait," Cowan said. "I've always wanted to go to Paris. I can't imagine ever getting a chance like this again unless I join the military."
"We get to shop in Paris," French said. "How often do you get to do that?"
While France seemed to be one of the most anticipated stops among the students, Wheeler said she's most excited about Italy.
"I've seen Italy in movies and I think it looks really pretty," she said.
In order to get to these places, however, the students need to raise around $4,000 each, Fox said. To do that, a variety of fund raisers will take place. Fox said the school would probably conduct a fund raiser dinner for the students, who will also be selling value cards, with the money from the sale of those cards going towards their trip fund. Fox said a concession stand program may also be used to raise money.
The students also have some fund raising plans of their own.
"My mom has a friend whose mother-in-law had surgery and she had a fundraiser where she made and sold 3,000 enchiladas," Baugher said. "I think we may do something like that."
Fox added that the students will also accept any donations made by members of the Fort Scott community. Anyone who is interested in making a donation to the trip fund can contact Fox at FSHS, (620) 223-0600. He can also be reached by e-mail at jfox@usd234.org.
Should all go as planned, Fox said the European trip will be memorable.
"It's going to be a trip that they'll remember the rest of their lives," Fox said. "Not often do kids from Southeast Kansas take two weeks to tour Europe."
NOTE: The rapid growth of students in the USD 234 band program has led to a shortage of instruments for all the students. To help resolve the problem, the district is actively seeking and accepting instrument donations. According to Fox, all donations would be tax deductible. Contact Fox for more information or to donate an instrument.