Thanks to Bill for his hard work. I watched as he jumped through hoops and marveled every time he found creative solutions to unforseen problems. Bill invested a major amount of time and risked his own money for this project. I am proud to have him at UTC.

stuart


-----Original Message-----
From: William Lee <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] 
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 11:26:48 -0400
Subject: [UTCSTAFF] UTC Music in Paris

The University Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble sucessfully toured in Paris, France,
March 6-13 and returned on the 14th.  This was the first tour overseas for
an instrumental ensemble since UTC became a state university more than two
decades ago.

The Ensemble and I wish to thank Dr. Jocelyn Sanders for her support and
encouragement.  We also wish to thank the following groups and individuals:
Professor Walker Breland, who advised on the musical and liturgical aspects
of the program; Dr. Robert A. Stanley who translated much of the program
and its notes into French, Jym Annear who also did translations, and Phi Mu
Alpha Sinfonia and the SGA for some financial help. Also, I thank my
colleagues; they were very supportive. Many university faculty and staff
sent messages of encouragement; these meant a lot to me and to the
students.

The French people were courteous, friendly, and helpful to us thoughout the
trip. Two of our students, Ken Doyle and Daryl Finley, played euphonium
solos in a brass class at the world famous, and selective, Paris
Conservatory. We thought there would be a huge gap between our musicianship
and theirs, there wasn't. Professeur Fritsch made us feel welcome. His
students had superior equipment, however, and spent considerable time with
us on the "Serpent," the harpsichord, and the saxhorn-an invaluable
experience for all of us. FRITSCH, like many professors at the
Conservatory, is a member of the military, the Guarde Republicaine, which
maintains France's greatest military orchestra, band, and choir. FRITSCH
obtained tickets and we were able to attend an otherwise military-only
concert, closed to the public. It should be noted that each French ensemble
played an American piece, include "An American in Paris" by George
Gershwin.

We saw no anti-American sentiment whatever, except on a couple of banners
at a communist rally near our hotel. Even there, the atmosphere was not
hostile, more like a circus, balloons, rock music, silly chanting, and etc.

We performed at (a) The American Library (b) The American Church and (c) Le
Conservatoire de Paris. Several French musicians attend our concerts, as
ensemble low brass music is not well known in France. We attended five
concerts (orchestras, bands, tubas and euphoniums, jazz) and recitals in
Paris and visited Versailles, the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc d'Triumph, and
other places.

The students adapted readily to the food, the language, and to the Metro,
and we had a great experience.

Come to our Post-Paris Concert on Friday, April 11, 8:30, Roland Hayes, and
hear world-class low brass playing.

William R. Lee, Professor, Music Department