A Proud "Parent"

[Chuck Jackson]

I am proud to announce that the Las Vegas Youth Orchestra Philharmonic will be be performing in Central Europe June 15-June 24, 2008. We will be playing in Salzburg, Linz, Vienna, and Prague. The tentative program is as follows. Not really tuba heavy, but a great program, I think.

1. Prelude to Tristan and Isolde or Orpheus in the Underworld
2. Violin Concerto Nr. 1 in G minor- Max Bruch

Intermission

3. Symphony Nr. 6 in F "Pastorale"- Beethoven

Encores, if warranted, include Hoe Down, Waltz from "Masquerade" by Khatchaturian, Skaters Waltz, Evening Prayer and Dream Pantomime, Imperial March, and Blue Tango.

This is a great orchestra and I am the luckiest person on planet earth to be conducting it. If anyone can come out from those environs, I would be very happy to comp you.

Chuck

www.lvyo.org

[Chuck Jackson]

I would love to have both of you along. It will only cost you a cool $3300. We have done an amazing amount of fundraising, but not enoughto comp you, as much as I think I would have the time of my life if you crazies did come!!!!


Chuck

[The Jackson]

Man, I thought my school's orchestra's $1200 Denver trip was a lot...

But mad congrats to you, Chuck! May your trip bring many novelty beer-drinking paraphernalia!

[Chuck Jackson]

Well Joe, you certainly know how to draw attention to you and how you felt and how you wanted things to go in a situation that really wasn't all about you. In fact, I take your remarks a little personally. I want you to look at the particulars.

1. This is not one of the typical play a concert and futz around deals. We will be playing in the Orangium in Vienna and have concerts booked in halls in Linz and Salzburg AND a concert in the Dvorak Hall in the Rudolphium in Prague. The kids will have a taste of culture that directly correlates to their ART.

2. I am taking 68 students. 95% of them have paid in advance or are working on gigs that directly benefit them. Alot of kids volunteered their time to help out the less fortunate kids. They believe this is a once in a lifetime chance and have been willing to go a couple extra miles tomake that dream a realization.

3. The parents are behind it 100%. In fact many are paying a higher rate to go.

As much as I appreciate your views, playing, and natural Libertarianism, you kinda rained on the parade here by interjecting a really negative response into a post about something positive going on in a city that most American's see as a cultural wasteland. We live here, work here, live simple lives, never enter a Casino unless we are paid to. These kids are everything that is good about Las Vegas and I am damn proud of them. NOW, instead of putting a negative hook into the mix here is the information. My question is this: After you weigh it, would you support one of your children doing it?:

1. Total Cost for students: $2800.00. That includes roundtrip airfare, double occupancy in 3 star hotels within the city limits, 3 meals a day, all taxes, transfers, and admissions to the few sight-seeing things we will have time for, the opportunity to play a full symphonic concert in 4 of Europe's musical capitals in major concert halls, and sample the culture that nurtured the growth of the very same music we are now trying to save?

2. Three different payment plans tailored to meet the economic confines of everyone in the group.

3. The opportunity to raise capital to help defray your personal costs.

4. Fees include rental of 5 string double basses, a tuba, and all the necessary percussion equipment and a harp.

I am the most financially coservative person on earth. My Board President and I have raised nearly 35K so no costs were passed onto the students that they weren't directly involved in. AND we have raised money to sponsor, fully, 4 very needy and extremely talented kids.

Weigh the information. Your feedback is always appreciated. Let's not tilt at windmills, it's annoying.

Chuck

[finnbogi]

Again, the dumb ol' bloke thought that music lessons, attending a concert played by a world-class orchestra, a nice dinner, and an amusement park (6 hours from home) might be cheaper, more educational, and more fun that a contrived concert after flying to Canada (while getting all of the instruments torn up in the underbelly of the plane) and screwing around in a mall.

I rather agree with you on that one, but I can't see how this is relevant. Surely, you can't honestly compare a ten day/four concert trip visiting the cradle of classical music to a short concert/shopping trip to Canada (which I daresay isn't more "abroad" for you than Minnesota).

I have participated in several concert tours (student, amateur and professional) to continental Europe and a few to North America, and although some have been poorly conceived and/or organised and in my opinion a waste of (usually other people's) money, most of them have been great successes and extremely educating - not only musically but socially and culturally in general.

And Chuck, congratulations, this looks like a great tour. Will you get the chance to see some concerts as well? There is usually a considerable student discount on the cheap seats or stands in Germany and Austria.

[TubaRay]

Chuck,
I don't think some bullshit trip to go play at some place in Canada and going to a mall equate to the trip you've put together.

Indeed they don't. I wouldn't be offended by Joe's comments, either.