Columbia Concert Band 1996 Netherlands Tour
by Wendy Wolf

What do you get when you combine 63 Columbia Concert Band members/family/friends, a wonderfully hospitable PHILEUTONIA, and friendship that flows as freely as Bavaria Beer? Nine fabulous days of an incredible trip together, seeing new sights, forming new friendships, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Friday, July 5

The majority of the CCB group were instructed by our untiring leader, Brent Mathews, to be at BWI Airport at 6:00 P.M. on July 5 to gather for our 8:45 P.M. ICELANDAIR flight. I arrived quite early, expecting to be the first, but found that there were a number of other CCB’ers as anxious as I was to get started on our Netherlands trip. (Most of us could have gone home and back and still had time to spare.)

Group members individually checked in and waited until 7:30 when we were led into a boarding area. The festivities had already begun with two large cakes celebrating the 16th birthday of Jenny Rhoads. We all talked while we waited to board and some warmed up their photo-taking skills. We were generally a casually dressed bunch, except for Maurice Feldman, who dressed in jacket and tie “to represent the CCB properly.”

Saturday, July 6

Our plane took off at 8:49 P.M. for a 5 1/2 hour flight to Iceland. During our 2-hour stopover in Iceland, some rested, some went to the duty-free shop, some got their passports stamped, and some took out their cards for a game of Casino. Then we lifted off at 7:52 A.M. (July 6, Iceland time) for the 3 hour flight to Amsterdam.

Our plane landed in Amsterdam at 12:25 P.M. local time. We went through customs quickly and were greeted by Jan Jager, Gert van Kraay and other PHILEUTONIA members. Bags were loaded into the PHILEUTONIA van and a bus, and we boarded the plush tourbus for our ride to Helmond.

It was drizzly and cool (upper 50’s) that Saturday. Much of the bus ride was not on an open highway, like in the U.S., but more of road through the countryside. We passed many sheep and cows, modern windmills for electric power, and numerous bikers on paths running parallel to the road. The bus brought us to a restaurant at Motel Vught Valkenzaal, where we were treated to coffee and pastries before heading back on our way to the PHILEUTONIA rehearsal hall. With sugar and caffeine now in our bloodstream, we were a livelier bunch and sang several rounds of the PHILEUTONIA song on the bus.

When we arrived in Helmond, the bus dropped us off, not at the rehearsal hall, but several blocks away in an open area, where the PHILEUTONIA marching band was gathered. The marching band played and led us in a small parade through the streets of Helmond to the PHILEUTONIA rehearsal hall. At the hall, we were welcomed by more music and speeches. Then we met our host families with whom we shared a group lunch. Finally, we each headed out with our hosts to see where we would be staying for the rest of the trip.

Sunday, July 7

On Sunday morning, we met at the PHILEUTONIA building for a short rehearsal of the CCB Wind and Jazz Ensembles. We then headed out for our afternoon activities. We visited a windmill in Bakel, where a mill tourguide explained the inner workings of the mill and Inge van Lingen had the sometimes difficult job of translating for the CCB’ers. We then tried out our canoeing skills for an hour or so. The “canoes” were really more like what we call kayaks, using a single oar with a “fin” on each end. While there were a few mishaps, most of us stayed dry.

Following our afternoon’s activities, we returned to our host families for dinner, planning to meet at 6:30 P.M. in Helmond’s city park for the “American Night of the Proms.” The “American Night of the Proms” was an incredible experience for the entire CCB group. Organized by the PHILEUTONIA, this event at the Carat-Pavilion in Helmond’s Warande-park, drew a crowd of more than 3,000 people who came to listen to over 550 musicians performing on three separate stages. Besides the CCB Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Starvation Army Band, performances included the PHILEUTONIA (their concert band, drum band, and big band), Slavisch Choir, Megachoir Helmond Vocal, and numerous other groups. There were also Bavaria parachutists to start off the evening’s entertainment. PHILEUTONIA’s appearance included a spectacular performance of the 1812 Overture, with choir and cannon. The CCB groups did a great job, as well. The crowd especially enjoyed the Wind Ensemble’s performance of Marsparade. Everyone was impressed with Sue Bartlett’s introduction of every piece in Dutch (she did this at all performances). I left the concert with my host at 12:30 A.M. and the Starvation Army Band was still going strong.

Monday, July 8

On Monday, we spent the day in Amsterdam. Our first stop was the world headquarters of the ING Bank, where the CCB Wind and Jazz Ensembles would be performing a lunchtime concert. The ING Bank Building is of unusual architecture, designed to imitate nature, with few right angles, many trees and plants, and running water. The building seemed as much a museum, with paintings and sculpture, as a place of business. After the lunch concert, we were provided with lunch at the ING Bank and then headed into the city of Amsterdam.

First we took a canalboat tour through Amsterdam, where we were shown the sights of the city. Then we walked through the streets of Amsterdam to the Pancake Bakery for dinner. The Pancake Bakery served a variety of delicious international pancakes. After dinner, we took a tour through the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Our long day ended with a comfortable ride on the tourbus, back to Helmond.

Tuesday, July 9

Tuesday was a more relaxed day for the CCB group, with no scheduled concerts. The morning began with a short bus ride to take the group to a tour of the Bavaria Brewery in Lieshout. I actually walked to the brewery with my host, from where I was staying in nearby Aarle-Rixtel, and took a detour to stop by that town’s castle. At the brewery, we were served coffee and saw a slide show on the history of the Bavaria Brewing Company. We then took a tour of the brewery, including a movie on how beer is made and a walk through the brewery, bottling plant and inventory storage building. Here were beer and soft drinks, labeled in many languages, awaiting shipment to countries all over the world. Following the tour, we were served a fabulous lunch, with beer, of course. On the way out, through Mr. Swinkels’ generosity, were each provided with a box of “8.6” beer and a souvenir glass.

After lunch, we traveled on to the Helmond Castle. Here we received a brief tour of the building and its artwork and then went to a reception with the Mayor of Helmond. The Mayor welcomed us to his town and presented us with a gift—a Delft plate with a picture of the Helmond Castle on it. Brent Mathews then presented Mayor van Elk with a proclamation from Baltimore Mayor Schmoke making Mayor van Elk an honorary citizen of Baltimore. The PHILEUTONIA also presented Mayor van Elk with a large framed photograph of their band on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, taken from their U.S. trip, last summer.

Tuesday evening was open time for the CCB group to spend with their host families. I spent a relaxing and enjoyable evening with my host, John van den Berg, and his family, having dinner, talking, and getting to know one another.

Wednesday, July 10

The group set off Wednesday morning for a trip to Asten to visit “het klokkenmuseum,” a churchbell museum. While I didn’t go on this trip, I was able to experience some of it through the video movies taken by Rip and Billie Rice. What a great way to be in two places at once! I traveled with my host, and Wendy (then Handler) and Aaron Weissman, and their host, Han Jager, to Amsterdam to take a tour of the Anne Frank house and other sites in the city.

The highlight of the day for everyone, I am sure, was the gala concert at Helmond’s concert hall, “‘t Speelhuis.” That evening there were performances by the PHILEUTONIA drumband, the Koninklijke Stadsharmonie Phileutonia, CCB Wind Ensemble, CCB Jazz Ensemble, and Columbia Kammermusik quartet. The Wind Ensemble received a standing ovation. Describing the Jazz Ensemble, Cor Swinkels wrote in the Eindhoven Dagblad (7/12/96), translated by Han Jager, “After a short but meritly Chamber music intermezzo, the Baltimore Big Band performed with a variety jazz program. Together with a number of good instrumental and vocal soloists, they made a swinging ending to this very successful American-Helmond night.” After the concert there was a buffet and dancing with music from the quartet of the Royal Marine Chappel.

Thursday, July 11

Thursday morning we traveled back to the west side of the country. Our first stop was the Delta-expo Neeltje Jans, where we saw a movie describing how a system of dike-works was constructed to battle the county’s problem of flooding from the North Sea. There was also a Dolphin Station where marine mammals stranded from the open sea are rehabilitated and prepared for their return to the sea.

We then traveled on to the miniature city of Madurodam, near the Hague. Here were replicas of famous buildings and landmarks of the country on a scale of 1:25. Before we were let loose to tour the “city” the CCB Wind and Jazz Ensembles performed in the park.

Friday, July 12

Friday we were free to spend with our host families, for last minute sight-seeing and souvenir shopping. In the evening, there was a huge farewell party at the PHILEUTONIA building. A variety of groups played music all evening, including the Philtune Big Band and the Starvation Army Band. Ample quantities of Bavaria beer were available all evening, giving a real lift to the party atmosphere. Gifts were given and thank-you and farewell speeches made. Finally, both the Dutch and American party bands turned the excitement level of the party even higher, as dancing CCB’ers and Phileutonians snaked their way around the rehearsal hall. The party lasted into the morning hours.

Saturday, July 13

For those leaving for Baltimore on Saturday, we met at the PHILEUTONIA building at 8:30 A.M. We were given more souvenirs, including a PHILEUTONIA CD, clog keychain, and Bavaria beer and glass with 50th anniversary of the PHILEUTONIA drumband on the label. The bus was about an hour late in arriving at the PHILEUTONIA building which made for quite a long good-bye. At 9:30 A.M., the first group of CCB’ers left for the airport to make their way home to the U.S.

While this article has described most of the activities that we did together as a group, a significant amount of time was spent by individual CCB members with their host families. Each did different things and everyone has their own photos and memories of the time they spent with their Dutch friends. From talking to those who made the trip, it is evident that everyone had a fabulous time. Much thanks is owed to all the people, both here and in the Netherlands, who worked so hard to make the trip a wonderful success. It truly was a trip to be remembered for a lifetime.

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