Wisconsin student musicians tour, perform throughout Europe

WESTON, Wis. (WSAW) - High school students from all over Wisconsin have returned from a two week tour through Europe.

This opportunity was thanks to an organization called the Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music. This organization takes choir and band students every other year to this tour where they perform for locals.

“The concerts were like amazing and there were so many different locals that came and they were just clapping along all the songs and they were just excited to see a different group that was there,” said DC Everest band student Tilly Palmer.

This year, over 100 students got the chance to take advantage of this opportunity. Some of those students were from DC Everest High School in Weston.

During their tour, students visited England, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

Not only were the students able to sight see but experience music in a different venue.

“I learned that music is shared throughout the world and that everyone has a connection to it, which is really cool so I’ll definitely keep that in mind with band and other events at school,” said DC Everest band student Emma Danke.

The organization has been giving students this opportunity since 1994. They partner with music educators who then nominte students to go on the tour.

According to DC Everest director of bands Joe Finnegan and the organization’s state co-coordinator, students are chosen based on two criterias:

• Must be a good musician
• Must be high in character

Once students are nominated by their music teachers, the fundraising starts.

Finnegan said the fundraising for the trip is a mixture of fundraisers and parents contributions.

The planning for the trip takes about two years.

Currently, the organiztion is already encouraging folks to start fundraising for the 2027 tour.