ORANGE CITY—Ministry through the universal language of music allowed N’West Iowa college students to experience the culture of Italy.

Forty-eight members of the Northwestern College Symphonic Band from Orange City traveled to Italy March 1-11 as the group toured the country to present five musical mission concerts in Salerno, Rome, Florence, Santa Maria degli Angeli and Padua.

The ensemble also visited sites of historical, spiritual and cultural significance, such as the ruins of Pompeii, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum in Rome, the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, the Accademia Gallery in Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and St. Mark’s Square in Venice.

Angela Carlson, conductor of the Symphonic Band, shared the goal of the tour for the audiences and the band.

“Our prayer is that the good news of Jesus Christ would be made known and that we all would be enriched by our performances offered for the glory of God,” she said.

Trip memories

As a musical tour still focused on ministry, the students were asked to submit a summary of how they experienced and saw God’s goodness throughout the tour.

Common responses included the landscape, architecture, people they met, growing closer as a band family and the performances.

God’s provision throughout the trip, especially arrangements for the flight ride home that changed at nearly the last minute, also was mentioned frequently.

“Though there were times when our schedule would change or be up in the air; all of us students were reminded to ‘pack your flexibility’ and to just go with the flow and take things almost hour by hour,” said sophomore oboe player Morgan Huls of Sibley.

More specific examples cite anonymous comments from student musicians demonstrated how similar experiences can impact people in diverse ways:

The city of Assisi has basilicas at the entrance and exit to the city, which one member said gave them a sense of peace during the visit not felt at other locations.“I felt like the Lord was laying something different on my heart each time we played, and I would feel His presence in the room,” another musician said.Standing on the Roman Forum after seeing the Colosseum, the view showed ancient buildings that included the remains of the prison where the Apostle Paul was kept.“I caught a glimpse of what life was like in Rome, especially for the many early Christians who died there,” the respondent said.Seeing brothers and sisters in Christ who live to worship the Lord in another part of the world showed the unity within God’s kingdom.“I was challenged by the grandiose art and architecture surrounding Christianity, particularly Catholicism, and how it contradicted the wishes of those whom they were created for,” shared a student self-described as an artist of all shapes and forms. The grandiose beauty felt like an exaltation of man, inspiring the student to seek the most God-honoring ways to portray life through their art.

Huls reflected on the impact the music program at Northwestern already has made on her education in just two years.

“There are many opportunities to express yourself and your musical talent. We travel every year and so you get to experience the thrill of performing for people that have never seen or heard of you before,” she said. “As a music major with an emphasis on performance, I don’t think I learn and grow more musically anywhere else than when I am traveling with an ensemble.”

Return to Iowa

The band culminated its tour experience during a home concert in Christ Chapel on Friday, March 21, playing selections from the repertoire performed throughout Italy and sharing snippets of the adventure between pieces.

Northwestern women’s choir director Cindy Moeller traveled and performed on clarinet with the ensemble and gave an Italian welcome she shared before each performance while overseas.

Pieces related to the tour’s location included “Vesuvius” by Frank Ticheli and an arrangement of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” from his unfinished opera “Turandot.”

“Nessun Dorma is very well known and popular in Italy, so it was so fun to be able to play it for the country that knows it so well. It almost felt like their anthem at some points. Phones would come out to record, and it seemed like the applause didn’t want to stop once we were done,” said Katie TeStroete, a freshman French horn player from Sioux Center as she read an introduction to the song during the concert.

Several other students shared their trip experiences as they announced numbers on the concert list.

The five performances abroad were held at two churches, an auditorium and two hotels.

“Some of our most impactful concerts were in the least likely of places, even like a hotel lobby. During this trip, God showed me that He can work through anyone anywhere He wants to,” said Allyson Taylor, a freshman flute player from Milford, NE.

Anna Frangenberg, a sophomore flute player from Spirit Lake, said being in Italy was an experience.

“It made me very aware that I am, in fact, an American,” Frangenberg said. “But the beautiful thing about that is, that’s not a bad thing. God made us all of our different cultures and our different dislikes and likes. We’re all able to take this whole band despite that overseas and provided for and to worship with them in the same way and we thank God for that.”

Another flute player in the band, sophomore Olivia Hartlep of Sheboygan Falls, WI, spoke after the ensemble’s performance of “Vesuvius,” which she described as one of her all-time favorite pieces.

“Our band had the opportunity to explore the ruins of Pompeii, and it was an unforgettable experience,” Hartlep said. “As I was walking through, I just couldn’t help but think of God’s faithfulness. This town was once flourishing and thriving, and then all of a sudden it was wiped out like it was nothing.

“Sometimes in our own lives, things don’t go to our plans because God has a different plan for us. But in the end, Romans 8:28 reminds us that He works all things for the good of those who love Him, and that’s something I was constantly reminded about throughout the tour.”

Junior clarinet player Meredith Sundberg of Kearney, NE, saw firsthand the universal power of music to unify.

“One of my favorite memories from this trip was playing ‘Amazing Grace’ while the audience sang along,” Sundberg said. “People were singing in English and Italian, and I loved seeing people worship together no matter the language they spoke. It was like a little taste of heaven, and I could feel God’s presence with us.”

Benjamin Geary, a sophomore saxophonist from Sioux City, introduced the final song, “Danzon No. 2.”

This song highlighted a performance for him at a hotel in Santa Maria degli Angeli that almost did not take place.

Geary said all the band saw at the 8:30 p.m. start time were empty chairs. After 45 minutes, 15 middle school-age students finally took their seats.

“Dr. Carlson invited up a young, enthusiast guest to help her conduct, and many of the kids struggled to hold themselves still as they clapped and danced to the music,” Geary said. “To me this instance proves to be a powerful statement of how God will always provide and that His timing will always be perfect.”

Senior trombone player Timothy Jenson of Sibley also listed this as a favorite memory.

“That was fun to watch as he navigated the piece and was then mobbed by his peers afterward,” Jenson said.

He said the song the young musician came up to direct was the most intricate song the band played but the student did well.

“These are incredible people to travel with,” Carlson said. “I am so honored to be able to be here with them and to be able to travel with them, around the United States and this year, to Italy.

“I consider it a great honor to be able to serve and worship our Lord with these incredible young adults on stage. Most importantly, we want to acknowledge our creator and our God, who made us to glorify himself. To Him we give great thanks and testify to His goodness.”