Our Winter 2019 Tour to Taipei, Taiwan

"I learned something new about the value of my musical education – how incredible it was, that the musicians we collaborated with often didn’t speak or read much English (and I spoke no Mandarin) and yet we could both read the same score."

-Elizabeth Finkel, '21

"I usually play with the CCO, a notably smaller group than our tour orchestra, and it was so much fun to play a symphony again. I missed the thrilling power of a large orchestra. And meeting players from a world away gave me a renewed love for my instrument and music in general."

-Michael Richardson, '21

"The outreach programs were such a success. I became friends with a few of the students, we played wonderfully, and it was such an amazing experience. I didn’t have to worry about the communication barrier; music is universal. I had always thought that was such a cliche thing to say, but I experienced it first hand on this trip. It didn’t matter who spoke what language; we all read the same music on the page."

-Hsin Huei Chen, '22

"Exploring the city with other members of the orchestra was incredible. From the staggering views of the city through a gondola window to the excitingly mundane adventures of navigating the subway system, there truly was never a dull moment."

-Stephen Sansoterra, '20

"I made both friends and memories that I never expected to in my last year, and I’m incredibly grateful to the orchestra for making this trip happen. I’ll never forget drinking tea in a small Jiufen teahouse, amidst the pouring rain, laughing along with new friends."

-Newton Ni, '19

"I ended up going home not only feeling incredibly closer to those existing friends, but to dozens of new friends as well. This tour helped me get to know my classmates in a way I never could have done otherwise. I now have a true appreciation for the immense talent, dedication, and diversity that lies within this group, as well as within the other music groups we encountered abroad."

-Hannah Faulwell, '22