by Lucy Hamann
Our final day of the 2025 Tour to Poland and the Czech Republic was devoted entirely to travel. As part of the earlier flight group, I faced a long, sleepless journey ahead. First we flew into Switzerland for a short layover before boarding our long flight back to O’Hare.
But as I sat in the airplane chair preparing for the next nine hours, I found myself reflecting on how much this trip truly meant and how much my journey with MYSO has shaped my life for the better. Flying back from Europe after ten unforgettable days would carry mixed emotions for anyone, but I feel especially bittersweet knowing that this trip marked the end of my journey with MYSO. I am a graduating senior so I won’t be returning for the upcoming season to watch the younger musicians I’ve come to know grow in the program. In just a few weeks, I’ll be starting college, and while I know I’ll be a part of new musical communities, I can’t help but feel that nothing will ever truly compare to what MYSO has given me over the past ten years.
This tour was the perfect ending to my high school orchestra career. I got to carry my passion for music to new countries and realize for myself that what we create together on stage can connect us to people all over the planet. Performing abroad frequently reminds me of how we have the power to connect strangers, and leave behind for them memories that linger, not only for the listeners but also for us, the musicians. There were also moments of reflection, like visiting Auschwitz. Now I know after days since I visited I will never forget the weight that the experience had on me.
Outside of the history and the performances, this trip was about the people. I’ve grown so close to my fellow orchestra members through weeks of rehearsals, bus rides, and sight seeing. These are the friendships that will stay with me long after this trip, and I couldn’t imagine closing out my time with MYSO in any other way than traveling across the world with them.
As I look back, I feel immense gratitude. Gratitude for the do
nors who made this trip possible, and for the families who supported us. I have so much gratitude for Mr. Simmons who pushed us to perform the most beautiful and challenging repertoire, and for the mentors who guided us. I couldn’t imagine spending my last summer with MYSO any other way.