Baylor Symphony Orchestra To Tour Costa Rica

by Richard Veit

An exciting spring break awaits members of the Baylor Symphony Orchestra as the group embarks on a concert tour of Costa Rica on March 15-22.
The orchestra was invited to the picturesque Central American country by the National Institute of Music of Costa Rica. Coordinators of the trip are the institute's dean, Jorge Duarte, and Norman Gamboa, a Costa Rican native and Baylor graduate student, who plays euphonium in the orchestra. The orchestra is led by Stephen Heyde, The Mary Franks Thompson Professor of Orchestra Studies and Conductor-in-Residence.
Three musical events are planned for the Baylor Symphony tour. The orchestra will perform a concert March 19 in the National Auditorium of San José, Costa Rica's capital city. On March 20, the orchestra will present an evening concert in the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de Heredia, situated in the north-San José suburb of Heredia. The Baylor Symphony will complete its tour March 21 with an outdoor concert in the Plaza of the Basilica of the Holy Virgin of the Angels, located a few miles southeast of San José in the town of Cartago.
While in Central America, Baylor students will be staying with families of members of the National Youth Orchestra of Costa Rica, which is the premier ensemble of the National Institute of Music. Sight-seeing excursions will be offered to the students, including visits to the still-active Poas Volcano, the Carara Rainforest and Wildlife Conservation Park, and Jaco Beach, which is well-known for its surfing and natural beauty.
For more information, call the Baylor University School of Music at 710-3991.