Concerts complete!!!

Posted by admin On June - 11 - 2009 Subscribe here

Following is a message from our internationally reknown director, Thom Working:

“Tonight was our final performance and another amazing experience!  The band has played so well -  but we’ve also had very meaningful and emotional experiences at the gravesites – like the one today at Wassenaar where many Dutch Resistance fighters were executed.

We’ve had a great time traveling but we’ve also grown so much emotionally and have such a greater appreciation for the sacrifices in WWII.  It’s difficult to explain to the people at home how appreciative the people here still are 65 years later.

We’re so proud to represent our country in honoring the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for us all so many years ago.”

-Thom

With the performances behind us, all that’s left is to tour Amsterdam and travel home.  Hopefully I’ll be able to upload some additional photos while traveling…

All travelers are well and I believe everyone had black socks on at the concert tonight.  (Right, Jack?)

Clear your calendar and plan to attend our first summer concert in Holland, Michigan this coming Tuesday, June 16 at 7:30pm at the Henry P Vander Linde Bandshell in Kollen Park!  We’ll be playing many of the songs from our Tour of Europe.

Trip
  1. Sarah Solberg Said,

    Members of the Excelsior Wassenaar “orkest” greatly enjoyed the cameraderie and music-making shared with our colleagues from HALB yesterday (Thursday 11 June). What a day it was!!!

    Thom played his part admirably in ensuring that our Excelsior director was given a horn, so he could join the rest of us in a rousing rendition of “Stars and Stripes Forever”. We raised the rafters!!

    A UCLA alumna, I was delighted to hear Gershwin’s “Strike Up the Band”. It took me straight back to Westwood.

    My only complaint? Too little time together!! ;-)

    I wish you a safe journey home and many more years of music-making.

    Sarah Solberg
    Clarinet

  2. Fred Vogels Said,

    It was a great honor to meet all the members of the Holland Legion Band, listening to the concerts in France and Holland. I enjoyed the commitment and involvement of all HLB members and their escorts. I am proud that the Holland Legion Band played the world premiere for Concert Band of Killing Fields. I have warm feelings for all those people of the HLB I have spoken and hope to speak all the others. I do hope we will meet again, somewhere, some place. Many compliments to you and your conductor Thom Working

    Fred

    Composer of Back to Normandy (www.backtonormandy.org)

  3. Lynn Dichiaro Said,

    If was fun following your trip. Thank you for sharing it with us.