Area Youth Tours Europe, Represents Glasgow

According to Glasgow High School band director Brad Persinger, there's probably nothing better than traveling to Europe and playing music. Although he's never made a trip like that himself, Persinger didn't hesitate to recommend one of his students, Zach Miller, for the opportunity.

Persinger submitted Miller's name to participate in "Northern Ambassadors of Music," a program which features musicians from Montana and North Dakota and is open to both high school and college aged students.

"Zach is very deserving of the recommendation," said Persinger. "He is an excellent musician and has a great attitude." Persinger further explained that students are hand-picked for the program and felt Miller is more than worthy of the recognition. "Zach is a really good kid and has been involved in music for as long as I've been here (Glasgow). He earned a 'superior' rating at the state music festival. That's the highest you can get," explained Persinger.

As a participant, Miller enjoyed a 19-day tour of Europe. Before flying out of the States, Miller traveled to Fargo, N.D., via Amtrak and attended a week-long music camp and rehearsal. The camp, according to Miller, who is a percussionist, was where the most musical emphasis was centered.

More than 350 musicians made the trip to Europe. Their first stop was London, England and from there, they were bused to Dover, which is about 76 miles away. The participants played full concerts in London, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. In addition, the choir members who made the trip performed in various churches and cathedrals. The group was also able to spend some time touring in France, Italy, and Greece.

The group Miller was traveling with benefited from guided tours as well as free time in several places. They stayed in Crans-Montana, a ski resort located in the Southwestern part of Switzerland and visited both Lake Geneva and Zermatt where the Matterhorn is located. While in Austria, the group visited Innsbruck, another resort-type city. After enjoying a day trip to Venice, Italy, they eventually made their way to Frankfurt, Germany.

From there, most of the participants departed for home. A small group, however, stayed behind and enjoyed Athens, Greece for another few days. This was the highlight of the trip for Miller. "At that point, the group was smaller, so it was a lot more relaxed," he said. "The history felt more . . . historical, and the food we had in Greece was much better than what we had anywhere else."

Miller finally made his way home Aug. 1 after 26 days of music and memories.