Photo gallery coming soon!
HERE'S WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE TOUR...
“There is a moment in life where we are at peace and enjoying every moment. For me, this moment has come true on tour to Bulgaria. Without this tour, I never would have had this experience to embrace this culture or grow in character as much as I did.”
- Margaret, percussion
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I’m so glad I got the chance to experience it. I met so many great friends and learned so many things about Bulgarian culture. I loved playing in the concert halls and seeing how excited the audience was. It made me feel on top of the world! This is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life.”
- Nicole, double bass
“For so many reasons, especially as a parent, I am grateful and privileged for this experience. Learning about Bulgaria, experiencing the support and generosity of friends and family when we held our benefit fundraising concerts, getting to know some of our amazing student musicians, watching them and my daughter perform those exciting, dazzling concerts, watching the audience drink in the music and show their great pride and appreciation, and feeling now that the world is a smaller place with our new friends in Bulgaria.”
- Patti, parent chaperone
“My favorite part of this tour was when the audience kept clapping after our performances, and we just kept playing encore after encore. It was so thrilling!”
- Tiffany,violin
“This trip really taught me that music makes the best ambassador – the ability to communicate with others without words or knowing the language – thank you for teaching me that. The most unforgettable thing about the trip was the standing ovations we got after every concert. They made me so tearful and happy!
– Melody, harp
“In short, this trip has been an inspiring experience in my life. I don’t care about the gift shops or bus ride photographs. These are tangible materials. I was more interested in the intangible experiences on this trip: the culture, the beauty, and the friendships I have made. I spent most of my time with our Bulgarian guest musicians, and I can honestly say that they have all become great friends and have welcomed me into their homes if I ever come back. Nothing excites me more than learning, and I learned so much from these friends (from asking hundreds of questions). After talking with them, and playing with Maxim [Eshkenazy], I feel like I have really boosted my inspiration and career. I will forever keep these friendships and memories.”
– Kevin, saxophone
“I have never really been out of my little ‘bubble’ of Orange County before, so seeing this new culture has been truly enlightening for me. The huge appreciation and love for music that people have here is amazing – I’ve never experienced anything like it, and I will certainly never forget the great feeling I got performing for them...I will always remember it as the best musical experience of my life!”
- Natalie, piano
“If you told me 8 years ago when I first picked up a flute, that I would take my talent to the stage in a foreign country, surrounded by strangers who feel what I feel about music, I would have not believed you. This opportunity to tour has made us feel like professional rock stars! It has allowed us to meet the people, experience the culture, and feel the music in such a beautiful country like Bulgaria. Words cannot fully describe what this trip has meant to me because I feel it all in music and I am so grateful and so proud to give that to this orchestra.”
-Bella, flute