Music is the driving force behind many great things in this world. It can bring a person great fortune, success, and happiness. Music can take you places you never thought you would end up in your lifetime.

For a group of local students, their love of music has brought them over the Atlantic Ocean, and half way across the world to Europe.

The adventure to Europe started on July 6. Five students from Mesabi East attended the trip, and included sophomores Haylee Donnelson, vocalist, and Arne Pelto, french horn. But among the group of students, were a close-knit group of friends.

Recent graduates Jake Baxter, percussion, Travis Whiting, trombone, and Kellen Witschen, trumpet, grew up together and played in band under band director, Mr. Kevin Ryks, for most of their high school careers.

All of the years of practice was not enough, though, for the big trip. The students held twelve hour practices in order to ensure the success of their concerts overseas, and all awaited for the moment when it all paid off.

The group of students started off their Europe adventure in London. Three days were spent there, and when they were not practicing, went sight seeing. The group visited several historic monument. Baxter was in a group that saw the Phantom of the Opera in a play house. After playing in London, a ferry was taken to the mainland. Paris was the next stop.

In Paris, the group took a bus tour around the city. They saw sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, and Notre Dame. According to Baxter, playing in Paris was an amazing experience, but the warm weather prohibited some enjoyment. Either way, a little hot weather cannot completely ruin doing what you love in a foreign country!

The third stop of their adventure was Switzerland. During his jam-packed schedule, Jake Baxter had time to tell me a little about this part of his trip.

"Switzerland, he said, is so far my favorite part. The mountains are beautiful and the people that we met were super friendly. We got our pictures taken in front of the Matterhorn."

The "Matterhorn" is one of the worlds most famous mountains. It rises 4478 meters high, but is not the highest mountain in Switzerland.

(http://www.about.ch/cantons/valais/matterhorn.html)

While there, the group got to indulge in the culture by eating and enjoying local cuisine.

Students swam in what could be compared to the little European sister of Lake Superior, Lake Geneva. Lake Geneva is the largest freshwater lake in Western Europe. Geneva holds about 89 trillion liters of water compared to the 11.4 quadrillion liters held by Lake Superior.

The band played in a large tent in the resort town of Crans-Montana. While they played, their audience danced around them and looked as though they were having a great time in the festive atmosphere. For dinner the next day was a fondue party, followed but a locally-arranged polka. "It was pretty fun to watch," Jake added.

With Switzerland behind them, it was back on the bus and another long bus ride to their next destination, Austria.

Between the bus rides and concerts, much free time is given. WIth the abundance of lakes in the mountainous terrain, swimming helps pass the time. Innsbruck was the highlight of Austria. Innsbruck was the home of the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, and where the group went and checked out the sights.

Once the students were done in Austria, the road took them to Venice, Italy and then on to their final destination of Germany.

Having the opportunity to travel around Europe does not come around often. Being able to experience it with some of your close friends, is almost priceless. For the students who participated in this trip to Europe, lifetime friends and memories were made.

If you can take anything from this, let it be to never pass up an opportunity that can change your life. Follow your dreams, and listen to the music!