We are home!

I don't think 20 people have ever been as glad to get home to Wichita as we were today! After a wonderful trip to Orleans and Paris, we were ALMOST home when our flight from Chicago was cancelled due to bad weather. We spent quite a miserable night in the Chicago airport, before being flown to Tulsa and riding a bus back to Wichita! Nate Hills flew direct to Salt Lake City to attend his Grandfather's memorial service, Tat had taken the train from Paris to London to visit friends, and Caroline and a friend went backpacking around Europe again! Carol Webb and I actually got to fly into Wichita this morning, and God Bless Dr. and Mrs. Green, who traveled to Tulsa and back to Wichita with our remaining students! Everyone is home and all luggage is now accounted for!
I am sure it is a trip that everyone will remember for a life-time. I hope to get some of the students to post their experiences and hopefully some pictures over the next few days as well. If you have a loved one who went on the trip, give them some time to rest up and then I am sure they will have MANY stories and pictures to share!
I want to thank all the students for being so great to travel with, and playing so well. Also a huge thank you to Carol Webb from Wichita Sister Cities and the Greens! We are GLAD to be home!
Lisa Hittle

Paris Day 1

We were hanging out in the French Latin Quarter last night, where all the streets were literally flooded with all kinds of shops and restaurants and tourists from all places.
It seemed as though all colors and ethnicities mingled there to the extend you just would not know where you were anymore, especially while I did not understand a word they were saying...
(I did not make the major-site tour in Paris with the others during the daytime because of my terrible physical condition--jet lag is still killing.)

from Lisa Hittle

We are leaving this morning from the beautiful city of Orleans to go to Paris. The jazz ensemble and Soulstice both played great performances at the Orleans Jazz Festival and were treated like royalty by the people of Orleans. Wichita and Friends University were both represented well by our students!

Orléans Day 2

The jazz ensemble performed to a very receptive crowd at the Orléans Jazz Festival. With a set that included favorites from tunes we performed all year, including The Way You Look Tonight, At Home, and several others, we received an enthusiastic standing ovation. Director, Lisa Hittle, had no choice but to give to the crowd's demands for an encore.

After the performance, we were given lunch at the festival site. We all enjoyed the salad, fish, and dessert, but there was definite apprehension when it came to the cheese! In the afternoon, we had free time to shop and pick up some souvenirs unique to Orléans.

In the evening, we had the opportunity to listen to an accomplished solo pianist, Francois Couturier who had a style of classical and jazz fusion. Following the concert, we sat down to a wonderful dinner at La òrangerie Pizzeria.

The evening was free again and we had the option of going to the jam session at the festival site. We'll be headed back there tomorrow and look forward to hearing Soulstice perform tomorrow night.

Mary Rose

Orlèans Day 1

So a couple of sleeping pills and flicks on flights really did not help our 18-hour international travel much. But nonetheless, as soon as we set our feet on the ground, the sight of Orléans and its cool breeze filled us with excitement and anticipation of good times.

It is mostly cloudy in high 50s here in Orléans. Not too dry.

Just about perfect for exploring the town by foot, although it started raining a little by night.

Pretty much everything about Orléans is excellent.

Food, fashion, structures, scenery, and surprisingly friendly, well-mannered people. Even the guy on a motorcycle vacuuming dog dung in a backstreet looks stylish.

I wonder what all that is about French...

But for now, oh we ought to recover from a jet lag first because we got to feed the world what it wants tomorrow: an American jazz.

Please cross some fingers for us that we will wake up good and sound (and on time) tomorrow morning.

Friends University Jazz Students to Stay Connected Through Blog

The Friends University Jazz Ensemble will be traveling to France June 15-23 and representing Wichita at the Orléans Jazz Festival.

While in France, students will be periodically posting images and stories on this blog. The blog entries will be posted in French time, which is seven hours ahead of Central Daylight Time, and will connect students, alumni and friends as they travel through France.

Jazz lovers are invited to support the mission of this trip by attending the Bon Voyage Concert and silent auction at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 13, in Sebits Auditorium on the Friends University campus. There will be special guests, an opportunity to bid on a number of area restaurant gift cards and wish students well on the trip. The silent auction begins at 6:15 p.m., and doors open for the concert at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10, and all proceeds from ticket sales will help defray the costs of the trip. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling 316-295-5537.