"The MPO tours were an incredible opportunity to immerse ourselves in music and grow collectively as an ensemble. We brought our music through nursing homes, concert halls, churches, and cathedrals; our repertoire and our ensemble were the only constants in the ever-changing environments. To adapt to diverse acoustical venues, we learned to lift our eyes away from our parts and towards the music around us. We learned to adjust articulations and dynamics on instinct. We learned to find beauty in previously unheard harmonies. By the end, we came away with a much deeper understanding of the music and our peers than we could ever achieve from the weekly rehearsals at home. From the youngest students to the seasoned graduates, the tours undoubtedly brought the joy of music to all of our musicians and our audience."

-Tomoko Sakurayama, 2019 Graduate