IKM-Manning freshman, Olivia Greving, was recently nominated and accepted into the Iowa Ambassador of Music program which will be held July 2-21, 2023. This 15-day European tour takes students on an adventure through five countries with once-in-a-lifetime cultural experiences including performances in historic venues.
“This is a tremendous experience for Olivia and I'm proud of her for doing it,” shared Ryan Runyan, IKM-Manning Band instructor. “We haven't had a student from our school participate in this event for many years. It's not an easy event to do; not only is it difficult to raise funds to participate, it also requires talent and a good attitude. Fortunately, we have a lot of strong band students at IKM-Manning. With all the successes the group sees in marching, jazz, and concert band, it's no secret our school has a strong presence in the music world. These successes take not only talent, but a lot of tenacity, integrity, and respect. Olivia is one such student who possesses all of these traits, and we are proud she is representing our band program (and community) abroad!”
Upon finding out about this opportunity and applying to participate, Olivia, daughter of Dr. John & Shelly Greving, created a plan to fund this trip. She used money from her own savings, asked her parents for support, and sent a letter to close family and friends. With 40 donations received from the letter, Olivia nearly reached her goal, with $1,000 remaining.
T-shirts are available for $15, long sleeve shirts for $20, and sweatshirts for $22. Shirts can be ordered online at https://iowaambassadorsofmusic2023.itemorder.com/shop/home. Donations can also be dropped off at AMVC in Manning.
Olivia has designed a shirt to sell and support her trip. Olivia wanted to also give back and encourage more students to participate in band, so proceeds above and beyond her needs for the trip will be donated to the IKM-Manning band program to support other students who want to participate in band.
“Band has given me the opportunity to meet new people, go places, and acquire new skills I would have otherwise never thought I would have needed,” said Greving. “I’m excited to be able to participate in this experience and give back to the band program.”
While Iowa Ambassadors of Music trips are usually held every two years, the trip has been on hold for the past five years due to COVID. This summer, more than 370 participants comprised of Iowa high school band and vocal students will spend three days rehearsing at Grinnell College under the direction of Dr. William Carson. The group will perform a Farewell Concert on July 4th in Grinnell before heading to Chicago.
The tour will begin in London, England with a performance at Victoria Embankment Garden, as well as visits to Windsor Castle, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. In Paris, France, ambassadors will perform at Le Jardin d’Acclimation and L’Eglise da la Madeleine with additional visits to Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, and the Eiffel Tower.
The next stop for performers will be at the Orangerie in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. With the Metterhorn as their backdrop, time will be spent visiting the charming Swiss Alps towns of Montreux, Tasch, Zermatt, and Colmar.
The town square of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany will be the next site for a performance before experiencing the famed, “Night Watchman,” and German shops. The tour will also honor victims and learn of the infamous Dacchau Concentration Camp.
The Sound of Music experience will be the center point of the group’s visit to Salzburg Austria, along with visits to Vienna, where they will walk the same streets as Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Haydn once walked. The final farewell concert will be held in the city center and farewell dinner held in the famous great hall of Stiegl Keller. Ambassadors will return to Iowa on July 21, 2023.
“We are so excited that Olivia has the opportunity to participate in this chance of a lifetime and further develop her musical talents while seeing the world,” said Olivia’s mom, Shelly Greving. “The band and fine arts programs we have here at IKM-Manning are second to none and prepare our students to be well-rounded, confident individuals who are pursuing skills that will last a lifetime. We are grateful for the support everyone has shown to Olivia and all of the fine arts students.”
T-shirts are available for $15, long sleeve shirts for $20, and sweatshirts for $22 in Carolina blue and Irish green. Shirts can be ordered online at https://iowaambassadorsofmusic2023.itemorder.com/shop/home/. Donations can also be made at AMVC in Manning.
