It was a flawless day...it was the day that many
dreamed about but thought they would never experience...it was the trip
of a lifetime.
Many months had gone into planning the trip
to Europe by the Concert Choir, Choral Ensemble, and Brass Ensemble of
Fayetteville State University. These groups had toured different
parts of America, but now they were embarking on an historic trip to Paris
and three cities in Belgium. Fifty-nine students and 20 adults were
about to fly across the Atlantic to sing, share, and visit with people
they didn't even know. It was an anxious time because for some, it
was their first experience on an airplane, especially on a flight that
was to last eight hours.
| After a breakfast with parents and FSU staff and administrators, and a stirring prayer by Dr. Harry Ghee, Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs, we boarded buses for the trip to Raleigh/ Durham International Airport. Luggage was packed and passports were in hand. Plane tickets were safely in tow and our only problem was howto get to the airport |
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and check in 79 people and 8 boxes of programs and CD's between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. when the plane departed. It worked and we found ourselves on the first leg of our journey.
Arriving in Atlanta, we were greeted by a display
of the writings, books, and attire of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
It was quite a site for our students to get a close up look at these articles.
Many posed for pictures with the display and then it was on to our flight
on Delta to Brussels.
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As we boarded the plane, I remember thinking how far we had come and how far we had to go and what would await my students on the other shore. I had traveled to Paris in February to set up the tour and was struck by its beauty and history. They were about to experience a new chapter in their lives. |
| We flew, it seemed like forever, through darkness until the morning sun came back to our sight. However, this time, the sun was rising in Belgium and the countryside below the airplane looked simply enchanting. Green rolling hills dotted with small houses and church steeples came closer in view as we began to descend and finally, we were on land. We were in Brussels, Belgium-4,800 miles from Fayetteville, North Carolina. |
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To our surprise, all the luggage arrived and all
the boxes of programs. As we made our way
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through customs in Brussels, we were 79 people pushing handcarts and going through steel doors to an unknown world. That world appeared on the other side when we met our tour guides, Bo and Urban, who were holding signs welcoming Fayetteville State University. Their smiles and warmth greeted us immediately and after shaking hands, we were on our way to the buses that would take us on the journey from Brussels to Paris. |
It was during this trip that our students got to experience French food and French money for the first time. We had to exchange dollars for francs at a Qstop restaurant/bus stop and we discovered french fries or "frites" in France. We also discovered bottled water and for the last time in many days saw mounds of ice in public (although we didn't know that at the time). We had a lot to learn.
Our arrival in Paris at the IBIS Hotel
was rewarded by keys to rooms and a chance to take showers. With
this accomplished, it was time to see Paris and see it we did.
We drove through the streets and remarked about how fast they drive and
how small the cars are. We saw the monument to the Bastille, the Paris
Opera House, the Louvres, the Obelisk, Napoleon's Tomb, and through the
bus windows we could always see the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
It came closer to us and soon there it was in front of us. Standing
1,000 feet high, it looked so different than in any book. The square
in front of the tower was filled with people, music, and dancing. I think
they knew we were in town. We stopped for a photo and proof that
we were in Paris.
Finally we arrived at The Arch de Triumph after
driving down the Champ de Elysee. It was massive and looked stunning
in the afternoon sun. We got out and walked around, mingled with
tourists and bought ice-cream. There was really a Haagen Das store
in Paris. Back on the bus we saw Notre Dame, several other churches,
and the spot where Princess Di lost her life, now covered with flowers.
People were everywhere and the cafes of the city were loaded with young
and old, sipping glasses of wine and coffees and having wonderful conversations.
Paris was abuzz with humanity.
| Wednesday was the day we met Mickey Mouse with a French accent. EuroDisney is a huge park, one fifth the size of the city of Paris. The Magic Kingdom still holds the hearts of people everywhere and Sue Arndel, out host gave instructions for our performance and turned us loose. It was 10 a.m. and there were no lines. I believe Space Mountain was ridden at least six times by some choir members. We were greeted by Tiggerr and Eyore from the Hundred Acre Wood and numerous Disney characters as we waited to go on to perform. |  |
The Videopolis was our first stage.
It was like Hollywood, complete with smoke machines, twinkling
stars, and a magic semi-circular stage. With our FSU fans out front,
the curtain opened and the FSU Brass Ensemble began to play. Next
the choirs took the stage and after 30 minutes, we had conquered Disneyland.
We left happy campers. 
After dinner, we boarded the buses and began the most remarkable aspect of our tour. We arrived at the Louvre, the famous art museum housed in the former palace of Louis XIV. Our guides showed us halls of artwork and statues, including Winged Victory. We saw paintings bigger than any we had ever seen. The colors were so real and the images were so lifelike. Finally, we approached her -- she actually was the center of the room, but there she was, the Mona Lisa. Our guides told us that the eyes of the painting followed you around the room and it was true. DiVinci was a genius and we were no longer looking in a textbook. We were facing it for real.
On our trip home we reflected on the art work
we had seen and my mind began to race towards the next day's events.
These would be monumental in the history of FSU.
| Thursday we dressed in our formal attire and arrived at the gates of The Cathedral of Notre Dame. This beautiful edifice, built between 1165 and 1235, with her beautiful stained rose windows, massive pipe organ, and marble floors made one stop and reflect. We organized and soon we were standing before the high altar of the Cathedral where Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of France.We opened our mouths and began to sing the songs of the people of African descent. |
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After a half an hour, it was over and
sound of the Fayetteville State University choirs were ringing in the ears
of those who listened within the walls of The Cathedral of "Our Lady".
Our afternoon was spent shopping and then another
trip to the Eiffel Tower. This time, we braved the heights and took
the elevator to the second level for a spectacular view of Paris.
It was a beautiful clear day and as far as one could see were buildings,
steeples, the River Seine, and Paris. We walked around in amazement
at what was no longer a picture in a book, but reality before our eyes.
| That evening, we performed at The American Church in Paris, an Interdenominational house of worship. Dr. Owens played on the magnificent pipe organ. Ms. Denise Payton's soprano voice filled the room, and once again the voices and brass filled the edifice with the sounds of Beethoven, Dawson, Johnson, Hogan, and others. The capacity crowd rose to their feet when we finished. It was an evening of triumph for everyone involved. |  |
Friday morning we began our drive to
Liege, Belgium some five hours away. We arrived at our hotel and
were treated to a picturesque view of the countryside. Not much later,
we found ourselves standing within the hallowed walls of St. Jacobs,
a 12th century church with magnificent stained glass and marble statues.
The beams of the ceiling were painted in bright blues and yellows with
beautifully carved figures everywhere. The marble floor gleamed and
the brass and gold altar fixtures glowed in the shimmering light.
What we did not know, was that at 7 p.m., people
were lining up outside the church to get in for an 8 p.m. performance.
Soon the 1,000 chairs were full and people were sitting and standing in
the back. We were greeted with thunderous applause and the concert
was another triumph. There were three encores requested by the audience
and we obliged. Ms. Payton was greeted with a huge bouquet of flowers
and more applause.
We
were mobbed afterwards for autographs by the audience!!
It was a night we would not forget!! We were treated to dinner afterwards at Chez Leon's. The menu was steamed mussels and french fries. It was a culinary experience for the students of FSU. Saturday morning we arrived in Brussels, Belgium, the new capital of the European Union.
The city was magnificent and the views were
spectacular. The town square was colorful and filled with lace stores,
chocolate stores, and souvenir shops. That night, we sang in the
National Basicilia of Koekelberg, the fifth largest church in the world.
With its huge columns and rising stain glass windows,
the setting was a wonderful way to end the formal portion of our tour.
The audience greeted us warmly and again asked for autographs.
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Sunday we arrived in the canal city of Brugge,
Belgium. The buses were too large to negotiate the narrow, cobblestone
streets, so we walked the 15th century town to St. Giles Church where we
sang the morning service. We experienced a religious service complete
with incense and a foreign tongue, that tongue being Flemish, the language
of the region. It was hard to understand, but we sang in Latin and
followed the rituals.
The setting was simply beautiful. Once again,
stained glass and marble floors and ornate altar fixtures. Finally,
at the end of the Mass, we sang a concert of African-American music for
the appreciative audience.
A ride on the canals of Brugge was our afternoon
treat followed by shopping and a fun-filled farewell party complete with
Karaoke. It was a night to remember. We also realized something
else. It was 9:30 p.m. and the sun was still up in Brugge.
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Quincy Walker celebrates his 21st B-Day!! |
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Monday, the 18th, we said farewell
to our tour guides and boarded the plane home. After eight- and-a-half
hours, we arrived in Atlanta and then transferred to the flight to RDU.
We had survived the European Concert Tour experience. Textbook dreams
were now a reality and we had represented our school, city, and state well.
It was an experience to remember!
