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VOLUME 82, NUMBER 42

220357

October 21, 2015

Stockton musician to tour Europe with Illinois Ambassadors of Music program By Tony Carton Editor

STOCKTON — When Stockton musician Rene Powers filled out a questionnaire earlier this year at a high school music conference she had no idea it would result in her participating in a project that would fulfill one of her lifelong dreams. “It was kind of one of those, “Just do it” kind of moments when I signed the papers because I never really expected it to happen, but then my invitation came and I just jumped on the opportunity because it’s something I really want to do,” said Powers who plays flute with the Stockton High School band. Powers said there was an Illinois Ambassadors of Music representative at the conference who led a discussion about the ambassador program and she’s been invited to tour Europe with the ambassador organization and its group of talented high school performers. The Illinois Ambassadors of Music is a select group of honor band students. The student musicians - demonstrating leadership skills, character, integrity and dedication to music - are chosen from all over the State and come together to share the gift of music abroad on a 16-day tour and concert in several European countries. “There was a girl there who had gone,” Powers said. “She talked about how much fun it all was and what a great opportunity it is.” The organization conducts its tour program every two years in cooperation with Voyageurs International Ltd, a Colorado-based company organized in 1970 to take American students and their music to audiences abroad. “It’s pretty cool to be involved because Stockton has never been represented in this trip before and it will be the first time anyone’s every gone and done a trip like this,” Powers said. The group will visit and perform in

seven countries including England, France, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria, Italy and Germany. “Before we leave we will spend two days at Southern Illinois University where we will be practicing to make sure we are ready before we fly overseas,” she said. “Once we arrive in Europe we will be doing concerts and there will be opportunities for sightseeing and experiencing the cultures of the countries we visit.” She has an itinerary and is looking forward to the group’s “down time,” so she can just enjoy being a tourist on a whirlwind tour of a lifetime. “We will see the Eifel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre while in Paris,” she said. “That’s really exciting. And, we will be doing similar side trips in all the countries we visit. It’s a lot of travel and not just for performing music. It’s an opportunity to experience all those other places.” Powers’ participation in the ambassador program is yet another sign of the health of the Stockton district’s fine arts programs. Stockton arts instructor Dorothy Ramey said in an earlier interview the school’s fine arts programs are growing. “I would say the arts are on a good strong building program at Stockton,” said Ramey. “We have some excellent students involved with both the visual arts and musical arts.” Stockton District Superintendent and High School Principal David Gilliland echoed those sentiments. “For our size I think, and of course I’m biased, but I think we have one of the best fine arts departments in the state,” said Gilliland earlier this year. “We’ve won several state championships in a row and our art numbers are strong. We are a smaller school, but what our teachers get the kids to produce is great.”

Photo provided

Stockton flutist Rene Powers, currently studying under the direction of band director Lori Dittmar, will visit seven countries in Europe while she travels this summer with the Illinois Ambassadors of Music program.

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