The Best for Last. . . .

Prague (Czech Republic), free after its "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, heard some of Kingwood, Texas' finest when the Kingwood Pops Orchestra (KPO) let loose with its arrangements. Star Wars Epic--Part II, West Side Story Highlights, Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Magnificent Seven, Over the Rainbow, Oh Danny Boy, Stardust, A Gershwin Portrait, Take the "A" Train, Stompin' in the Savoy, and Two O'Clock Jump resonated throughout the Czech Museum of Music. A former 17th century Baroque Church of St. Magdalene, the Museum's acoustics were perfect for the orchestra's and singers' last performance of the tour, and KPO's sound was perfect for the former church.

When a couple of us tried to take/salvage (Oops. . . . I mean "requisition") posters for the performance just before KPO began, we were politely (??) reminded that the posters needed to stay. Apparently, the museum's directors knew their audience. Although nearly all of the seats were filled before the performance, people still walking by the museum looked at the posters, noted what was in store for the evening's entertainment, and began filling the remaining seats. Appreciative of what KPO provided, several younger members of the audience singled out some of the musicians and asked for their autographs.

What a way to end the tour!

George/Angelina/Will. . . .AND the Kingwood Pops--WOW!

Okay, so my "sighting" of George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, and Will Smith in Vienna, Austria, may not be an accurate portrayal of what I saw. . . . The performance of the Kingwood Pops Orchestra at the Haus der Musik, however, WAS. "The halls were alive with the sound of music. . . . ." Music filled the five-story building; people opened their windows above the orchestra to hear the music; and there was standing room only most of the performance. When people gave up their seats, many of those appreciative audience members returned to stand in the back of the hall so that they could continue listening to the KPO's sound and the singing of the Wedekinds. The Hause der Musik could have opened another room to its museum and added to its eclectic collection of sounds to be appreciated by music/sound lovers. Hmmm. . . perhaps the room could be named "The Sounds of Pops" room. . . . .

Wals, Austria, meets the Kingwood Pops Orchestra

After going on our "pilgrimage" to the center of Burghausen (Austria), the town with a Medieval character along the Salzach River, and to Oberndorf with its Silent Night Chapel, the orchestra nestled into the Gasthof Grunauer Hof Hotel in Wals, Austria, for two evenings of "rest." Fortunately for the residents of Wals, the Kingwood Pops Orchestra (KPO)was ready to play its tunes two days running. On the 16th, an enthusiastic evening audience at the Heimathaus enjoyed a taste of Texas KPO style. Beginning with music from Star Wars, continuing with fabulous song stylings by Deborah and Larry Wedekind, and ending big with several blockbusters from the Swing Era, the Kingwood Pops Orchestra ended its first performance with shouts for "Mehr Bitte (More, Please)" from the delighted audience (Okay, I had to check with Maestro Liebst for the German translation of the term. . . . ). Several male members of the KPO were invited to participate in a traditional Austrian dance by the members of a delightful local dance troupe. The evening's events were capped by the presentation of a bag of Mozart chocolates to Herr Liebst by the concert organizer, which he shared with all of the members of the orchestra and "groupies"---YUM!

The next afternoon in Wals, the community was again eager to hear what the Pops had to offer--this time at Zentrum Walser Birnbaum--and, again, did not leave the orchestra without a request for "Mehr Bitte." Eyes brightened; bodies swayed; toes tapped; and the Pops received a standing ovation! No chocolate was given, but the warm smiles and hearty waves from the ladies who saw us off made everyone feel appreciated and left us with no doubts that the program was enjoyed.

Arrival

Just in case you were wondering, the Kingwood Pops Orchestra HAS ARRIVED!! Jet lag was obvious when one listened to the lack of noise after everyone arrived. There was little "buzz" coming from the group of 40+ people who arrived from Munich on the bus. Everyone seemed to catch his/her second wind, however, the next day when stopping at Burghausen. Most of the group immediately took off up the hill to see the largest castle/fortress in Germany. The beauty of the square, however, seemed to catch many people's attention as the detailing of the buildings and the artwork on them was VERY different from those at home. A second stop while on the bus ride to the "Silent Night Chapel" and a view of the river was breathtaking. Small though the chapel was, everyone wanted to take a turn going inside to take a picture and to see the place where "Silent Night" was sung for the first time. That first singing of the now-so-popular Christmas carol was the result of a broken organ and a school master's just happening to have a song that he had written that could be sung with only a guitar for accompaniment.

Anticipation.....

Here is the first experimental post for the long-anticipated Kingwood Pops Orchestra tour of Europe! To begin, let Jim and me welcome you to our "Summer Palace" (Schloss Schonbrunn) in Vienna, Austria! Come along, now. Don't dally. . . . . .

Before we begin the actual tour, though, I may add a "few" entries from Italy the week before the 14th, when the Pops Adventure truly begins.

I can't wait -------- The adventure is going to be so Coooooool!

Oops, for those of you who do not know me, my name is Brenda Stubbs. Jim Stubbs (whom I usually refer to as "Tall Guy") is my husband. Both of us are associated with LSC-Kingwood. He is the director of the Big Band; I am the Early Intervention Coordinator and an adjunct. He will be performing with you this summer, and I will be your blogger. Now that you know me (and that I am attached to Tall Guy), feel free to introduce yourself to me on or before the trip!