Tales of an Orchestra Den Mother | Part 1, HYSO on Tour

Disclaimer

This is another story from my "and now for something completely different" file that does not relate to General Aviation in any way. Instead, this is my perspective on a trip to Europe with The Bear and her youth symphony orchestra in April 2022 when they played to audiences in Berlin, Leipzig, and Prague. It was an incredible experience that we will both cherish for the rest of our lives. I thought it would be worth sharing here and, if nothing else, the pictures are pretty.

Casualties of War

This tale begins in the early twentieth century with a talented young violinist born in Rochester, NY named David Hochstein. Hochstein was so skilled a player that he earned the patronage of people like George Eastman, founder of Kodak and well-known supporter of musical endeavors in our community. Hochstein learned from the best teachers, traveled far, and received worldwide acclaim for his playing. Wanting to give back to the community that nourished his aspirations, he taught lessons to young Rochester musicians.

This light that shone so brightly was snuffed out on War War I's western front during the Meuse-Argonne offensive within a month of the November 11, 1918 Armistice ending the war. Hochstein was one of 350,000 casualties of that campaign alone. Heartbroken by this loss, Hochstein's Rochester patrons founded a new music school in his name that started in the Hochstein family home in January of 1920.

By 1978, the Hochstein School of Music and Dance had become a driving force for the arts in Rochester and relocated to its current building, the former Central Presbyterian Church. Built on the site of an abolitionist household that once served as a waystation on the Underground Railroad, the church's 1890-era auditorium was built in the round and was the largest auditorium in the city at the time. In 1895, it hosted the funeral of former slave and influential abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The large, beautiful auditorium was a perfect centerpiece for the Hochstein school.

The Bear (far left, in black) at a ballet recital in November of 2014.

Our relationship with Hochstein began a few years ago when The Bear took ballet classes there. Between Covid-19, academics, sports, and music, ballet eventually fell to the wayside. 

A portion of the Hochstein School, photographed June 2016.

But we returned to Hochstein in 2021 when The Bear and her oboe joined the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra (HYSO), the top auditioned group at the school comprising high school kids from surrounding communities. Although her high school is small (we jokingly refer to it as "Hogwarts" because it is unusual, sometimes magical, and often weird), it was well-represented in HYSO that season by five musicians. I would like to think that Kristy's influence, as the Hogwarts band director, is partly responsible. To be clear, this is a phenomenally talented ensemble. David Hochstein would have been proud.

Opportunity of a Lifetime

The Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra photographed in late 2021. Photo from Hochstein.

Every other year, HYSO goes on tour. The plan for April 2022 was for the orchestra to play in Berlin, Leipzig, and Prague. Naturally, when presented with such an opportunity, we wanted The Bear to go. In fact, all of the Hogwarts HYSO students joined the 2022 tour. This included Erica on violin, Gabe on clarinet, Izzy on string bass, and Luke on bassoon.

Because attendance was open to parents, Kristy and I decided to join as well. For Kristy, this would be her first trip to continental Europe. For me, although I have given invited scientific talks in a number of European cities, the allure was Prague. I have wanted to visit Prague for decades due to the way a normally cynical college friend effusively gushed over its beauty many years ago.

A typical Saturday HYSO rehearsal from early 2022. The Bear is in the lower left corner. Her friend and classmate Luke is on bassoon in the upper right corner. Photo from Hochstein.

Obviously, Covid-19 was still a consideration in planning this trip. The prior summer's euphoria over vaccine protection had ended with the emergence of new variants (Delta and Omicron) and the decision to go was not made lightly. Contracting Covid and becoming stranded far from home was a real risk for all participants. Concerns over Putin's war on Ukraine were also weighed. Like me and Kristy, some of the other Hogwarts parents struggled with their decisions to attend or not. Ultimately, we were to be joined by Yana and Zhenya, Gabe's parents. Those Hogwarts parents not joining the tour took comfort in Kristy's presence as a known and trusted teacher to keep an extra eye on HYSO's Hogwarts contingent.

Ultimately, the plan was for roughly 120 people (musicians and other adults) to bus from Rochester to Toronto, fly to Frankfurt, then take a short connecting flight to Berlin. This was our itinerary:

• Saturday, April 16: Rochester to Toronto by bus, Lufthansa flight from Toronto to Frankfurt.
• Sunday, April 17
• Arrive in Frankfurt, fly to Berlin
• Bus tour of Berlin
• Spree River Cruise
• Monday, April 18
• Sightseeing tour of Berlin by bus and foot
• Rehearsal for the musicians
• Performance at the Heilig-Kruez-Kirche in Berlin
• Tuesday, April 19
• Journey to Leipzig via Halle
• Tour Halle, birthplace of George Friederich Handel
• Continue to Leipzig
• Wednesday, April 20
• Explore Leipzig
• Rehearsal for the musicians
• Performance at St. Peter's Church in Leipzig
• Thursday, April 21
• Journey to Prague
• Stop at Terezin, a former WWII Nazi concentration camp
• Arrival and exploration of Prague
• Friday, April 22
• Tour of Prague, including the Castle District
• Saturday, April 23
• Tour of Old Town Prague
• Rehearsal for the musicians
• Performance at Smetana Hall in Prague
• Sunday, April 24
• Return home

The repertoire planned for the group was:

• Norwegian Dances (Grieg)
• Selections from La Boutique Fantasque (Rossini / Respighi)
• Dances in the Canebrakes (Price)
• Three Dances from The Bartered Bride (Smetana)
• Symphony No. 2, movements 3 and 4 (Tchaikovsky)
• Encore: Slavonic Dance Op. 46, No 8 (Dvorak)

Examples of Viruses Ruining Everything

The Hogwarts crew at Hochstein getting information about the tour: Luke, The Bear, Erica, Izzy, and Gabe. Kristy, Yana, and Zhenya are sitting in the upper right of frame. Photo from Hochstein.

In the weeks leading up to the trip, we carefully monitored what was happening around the world with Covid-19 precautions and requirements. Friends and colleagues in Berlin, Peter and Matthias, confirmed for me that infection rates were decreasing in Germany and that the country was opening back up. After the extended Covid-19 lockdown in Germany, Peter predicted that concerts would be well attended due to pent up demand for live music.

An excited whirlwind of activity filled our home the night before departure. Suitcases were strewn everywhere, travel documents were carefully curated, clothes were thoughtfully selected. One key logistical challenge for us during the travel would be managing The Bear's oral immunotherapy for her peanut allergy. She was required to take a daily dose of highly refined peanut protein that required refrigerated storage. When all other preparations were completed, we turned to the final pre-travel checklist item: Covid-19 tests for the three of us.

One of them was positive.