Over the summer, the Flint Youth Symphony Orchestra (FYSO) took to the skies to complete a European tour! The ensemble of 41 students, along with as many instruments and a handful of chaperones, spent 14 days in France and Germany from Jun. 25 to Jul. 8. 

Their first stop was Ahrensburg, Germany, where the group reunited with the Ahrensburg Youth Orchestra, who visited Flint last October. Their arrival happened to coincide with a regional Chamber Music Festival where musicians from both orchestras – along with the visiting Bamberg Youth Orchestra – joined together in small groups to rehearse and perform a spontaneous chamber music recital. 

While in Ahrensburg, FYSO gave a solo concert – which was no small feat in the 91-degree auditorium – as well as a joint concert with the Ahrensburg Youth Orchestra. The visit ended with a fun after-party, which FYSO clarinetist Matthew Lee says was the best part of the trip. “It was fun since I got to enjoy some treats, I wouldn’t have been able to in Michigan,” he says of the soiree, where the orchestras mingled over mocktails and traditional German sausages, watched the Euro Cup in real time and showed off their best moves in an auditorium-turned-dance club. 

Then it was on to Lyon, France, to meet up with the Limonest Youth Orchestra, and FYSO musicians were excited to reconnect with friends they’d made the previous summer when the Limonest orchestra visited Flint. Emma Benton, an FYSO violinist, says this was easily her favorite experience abroad. “I was able to make many friends when they all visited the U.S., so to be able to see them all again just filled me with so much happiness,” she says. “I have made lifelong friendships.”   

FYSO once again performed a solo concert and shared the stage for a joint concert with the Limonest Youth Orchestra, before they ended their time in France with another celebration – this time with a special performance element. The musicians held an impromptu recital where all interested students could perform for their peers. They were so eager to play that the spontaneous music-making went on for hours.  

The most immersive part of their travels was the culturally enriching accommodations. Students stayed with local host families, which was a new and exciting – if sometimes challenging – experience for all. AJ Meinka, who plays French horn, says his host family provided a true taste of local culture. “One of my favorite parts of the trip had to be sightseeing in Hamburg with my host family. We got to see the highlights of the city, and we got to see what a day is like living in Germany!” he says.  

FIM congratulates these young musicians who not only did a fantastic job representing FSPA while they showcased their hard-earned talent abroad, but also embraced the opportunity to learn about new cultures and traditions – all while connecting through their shared love of music. 

Read on to find out how you can be part of this special musical connection and help provide the same enriching experience for our partner orchestras when they visit Flint in Feb. 2025!