The Neuqua Valley High School Festival Concert Band recently returned from a wonderfully successful tour of Spain, with performances in Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona. Chip Staley, director of bands and fine arts chair at Neuqua Valley High School, offered some high praise and thoughts on their travel experience. Congratulations, Neuqua Valley High School, and we hope to work with you again in the future!
Spain Tour 2015 NVHS Band Produced, filmed, and edited by Cole Bacani
Kudos to you and your staff for organizing a spectacular custom tour of Spain for the Neuqua Valley High School Festival Concert Band. We have come to expect the very best travel experience from MCI because of the concert tours you planned for us in China, Germany, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. MCI managed to exceed our highest expectations for our concert tour of Spain. Tour managers make or break a trip. Unflappable, caring, witty, engaging, personable, helpful, meticulous, indefatigable, perfectionists; Silvia and Flavio provided the highest level of service during our 9 days in Spain. Our meals and accommodations were exceptional, our buses clean and comfortable, and our bus drivers punctual, courteous and professional. We visited many significant cultural and historical sites in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona. Silvia and Flavio made certain we never wasted a minute. They were always three steps ahead, giving us tickets, moving us in and out of areas effortlessly. Instructions for where to go, what to see and when to gather for departure were always crystal clear. Students always felt properly informed, expertly guided and carefully protected. Our tour managers connected with everyone in our group. Not only would our students want to visit Spain again, but they would surely make it a priority to reconnect with Silvia and Flavio. The most important aspect for us, as you know, is the performance experience. We asked you to organize joint concerts with Spanish wind bands in all three cities. Through your contacts in Spain, you set up performances with wonderful bands in each community during HOLY WEEK. This was no small task, but judging by the packed houses at each event, you definitely made certain to create a buzz in the community to motivate people to attend each concert. Thank you so much for the service that you provided to our musicians travelling internationally. Leaders of exceptional music programs expect only the best for their students. “Once-in-a-lifetime” is the only way to describe an MCI tour. I highly recommend MCI for any international concert tour.
With Deep Appreciation,
Charles “Chip” Staley Fine Arts Chair, Neuqua Valley High School
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