Band trip leaves Colony junior wanting more

Jessica Lear, a Colony junior-to-be, says she wants to travel around the world playing her trombone when she graduates.

So consider her summer practice.

Lear returned from a 21-day European tour with Sound of America Honor Band and Chorus, a national band and choir group that played in some of Europe's most famed concert halls, to sold out crowds.

"It was amazing," Lear said of the trip. "It was like nothing I have ever experienced. In some of the concert hall, the echoes lasted for seven seconds."

To be part of Sound of America Honor Band and Chorus, one must send an audition tape.

If you are an all-state band member, you don't have to audition, but you still have to come up with the roughly $5,000 it costs to take the trip.

Lear was the second chair trombonist on the trip, and she said the experience was well worth the money.

"You are around amazing people with amazing talent every day," Lear said. "It made me want to expand my music career. I've always wanted to travel the world playing my trombone when I graduate."

Lear was one of three Alaskans on the trip. The other two -- a bassoonist and a choir member -- were from Fairbanks.

Only three states weren't represented in the 240-person band and choir.

"There were people from all over the country," Lear said.

The group traveled to six countries -- Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and Luxembourg -- playing in some of the world's most famous cities.

There were concerts in Frankfurt, Rothenburg, Venice, Verona and even at Disneyland in Paris, where the band was specially invited.

"I really liked Rothenburg, Italy and Switzerland," Lear said. "Every place we visited was special."

Since the band and choir is only open to sophomores through seniors who just graduated, there aren't many opportunities to participate.

Lear said she is planning to go back in 2004, because this year's trip was so rewarding.

"There were some people with us who had been coming for several years," Lear said. "I really want to do it again."