The day has a slightly urgent feel about it right from the start. We learn that we will not be stopping at the Abby of St. Florian due to scheduling problems. We are, of course, due in Vienna at 4 pm for the official opening ceremonies of the 27th Annual Youth and Music Festival. We do stop for lunch at the Rosenberger on the Autobahn.

Our tour guides Andreas and Irene (pronounced ee-RAY-nuh)

We keep passing gorgeous monasteries and cathedrals

Katy Shrum having some quality time with the dessert menu at the Rosenberger on the Autobahn

The Welcoming Ceremony in Vienna

After a short freshen-up at the hotel we head over to the Austria Center for the opening ceremony. As we leave the bus we see an Australian group waiting to enter the building. We ask whether they are a choir or an orchestra and find out that each member does both. The main hall is jumping with activity. There are hundreds of kids already seated when we arrive and the room quickly fills up to overflowing. Several officials give official greetings, sharing with us some of the history of "the music capital of the world"--an honor that Vienna used to hold uniquely, but now shares with New York, Tokyo, and several other great musical cities. In his greeting one shares a list of famous composers that did their best work in Vienna, and it sounds like a "Who's Who" of classical music: Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Haydn, Strauss, Schoenberg, and Bruckner to just name the most famous. Many of these musicians were not BORN in Vienna, he is careful to point out, but were drawn to the city--as we have been drawn--because great music is happening here all the time. He offers us a challenge to compete, yes, but, more importantly, make friends with other musicians, and together soak up the spirit of great music that is alive in Vienna and take it back to "every continent of the world." The speeches are followed by two short concerts, one by a boy's choir with each singer dressed like Mozart, and the other by a very fine youth symphony from Wales.

We cross the Danube to get to the Austria Center	The Austria Center is a very modern building next to a United Nations complex	There are already hundreds of kids there when we arrive. Most of us get seats, but some have to stand at the back for the program
Many of the groups are dressed in matching outfits like this group from Japan	Jessica Wilbert and Laura Reed	The Amadeus Boys Choir gives a concert dressed in powdered wigs and ruffles
The UN complex next door is quite impressive	Laura Snyder, Allison Kennel, Jenna Pritchett, Catherine Dowd-Reilly and Ashley Kasonik share a dinner table	The whole group surprises chaperone Sue Kell with a special dessert and a round of "Happy Birthday"

We return to the hotel for dinner and discover that it is chaperone Sue Kell's birthday. Some candles are found, some arrangements made with the kitchen crew, and voila, we deliver a dessert to her table as the whole group sings "Happy Birthday". The kids head to their rooms to change into (even more) casual clothes so they can ride back to the Austria Center for a dance party featuring the ever-popular Austrian rock group "The Playboys". Andreas, our tour guide, tells us that they have been the ever-popular Playboys on the tour itineraries for just about as long as he can remember. After days of touring historical sites the group seemed to enjoy having a "different" kind of event. They return fairly early to the hotel to rest up for tomorrow's big event.

On the way to the dance party Lucie Ofiesh, Emily Gibson, Kassi Omohundro, and Katy Shrum practice with a somewhat racy Viennese billboard

Just follow the signs to the 27th International Youth and Music Festival

Some in our group liked the band, some didn't

Patty Vandever's Journal Entry for July 11, 1998.

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