Over the summer, a few lucky Baldwin High school students had the opportunity to travel to Europe though the Kansas Ambassadors of Music, where they performed in a mass band and traveled to England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy and Liechtenstein with band director Will Cooper.

“Switzerland was my favorite place because everything slowed down,” junior Emma Leach said. “Our schedule wasn’t as packed as it was before because in London and Paris it was really busy.”

Students that went were seniors Abby Hayes, Selci Hopkins, junior Emma Leach and BHS alumni Tanner Wilson, who graduated last year.     

“It was by far the best trip of my life,” Hayes said. “I would do it over again every year because it was so much fun and I learned so much.”

They played five concerts total alongside an orchestra and choir that also performed for townspeople who heard about it, most of them come every year.   

“Cooper was in charge of the whole trip,” Hayes said. “So when the group was together (244 kids) he was strict but when it was our small group he was fun and made a lot of jokes.”

The group traveled to many famous sights including Buckingham Palace, the London eye, Windsor Castle, the Eiffel Tower, Napoleon’s tomb, Notre Dame, Lake Geneva and the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany.

“There was a weird feeling at the concentration camp,” Leach said. “Like something else was there with us.”

All in all, the trip was successful and a lot of fun. The trip occurs every two years and the next one is ever anticipated by students.