China Offers More than Sightseeing for Edina Band

They gallivanted on the Great Wall and frolicked at the Forbidden City.

For five days over spring break in March, the Band took in the sites, learned about Chinese musical instruments and performed for local audiences in what was undoubtedly the “trip of a lifetime.”

“We attracted attention, met some wonderful people and I even have two new pen pals (technically make that e-mail pals),” said Camille Pinckaers, a junior who plays the bassoon.

The trip was a year in the making and last fall, band members launched several fundraising efforts to finance the trip.

“The expenses were met through a combination of the fundraisers as well as by the students and their families,” said band director Paul Kile.

Trips abroad are not new for the Edina band and in the past, the group has been to Europe, other countries in Asia and the Caribbean. Trips are made ever other year.

No one in the band had ever been to China before. There was even one person who had never been on a plane before.

The trips have been planned and coordinated through of Edina.

The China trip began with an 18-hour flight from Minneapolis to Beijing, including a three-hour layover in Tokyo, which took place after the recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

Once in Beijing, students said it was instantly apparent they weren't in Edina anymore.

“You are immediately struck by how many people there are everywhere,” said Katie Landreville, a senior who plays bassoon.

Anna Coleman, a senior percussionist, drew some special attention.

“They seem intrigued by and like tall blondes,” she chuckled.

All three said the language barrier proved to be minor and the Chinese are naturally friendly and want to meet people and communicate. Taking pictures of each other was a constant activity.

The band members toured all of the major sites, but also got to visit several hutongs. At one time private homes considered luxurious, the hutongs were seized following the Communist Revolution in 1949, but have since gone back into private hands as the Chinese economy drifts steadily into capitalism.

They also were introduced to Chinese musical instruments such as the suona (much like an oboe) and a sheng (similar to a bassoon.)

“About the only instruments they have which are identical to ours are cellos, flutes and upright basses,” said Landreville.

While Chinese cuisine was the faire most of the time, they did manage to eat some American standards from places such as McDonald’s.

Lao Tzu, famed philosopher and father of Taoism once said, “Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.”

For five days in March, the Edina High School Band and their Chinese hosts realized this.