Ambassador's Trip to Spain

The Ambassador's performance in Segovia, Spain was spectacular!!!  The Ambassador's kicked off the Segovia Summer Festival Monday July 18th. They were listed on the official programs posted all over the city, which include top performers from all over Spain through out next two weeks.  They played in a square in the old part of the city, not far from the famous ancient Roman Aqueduct  to a huge crowd that must have been close to 2000 people. Every seat was taken, the steps were full, the narrow street had just a small opening for people who managed to walk by without being drawn in.  The band played a wide variety of songs from traditional to pop. The crowd was electrified; and erupted in dance when the band played "Push" and proceeded to form a conga line through the audience while playing their instruments. The locals got to see up close that this amazing music was coming from these American kids ranging between 11 and 17 years old. The Ambassador's played for almost 2 hrs with the crowd demanding three encores. Afterwards people were coming up and saying congratulations; the kids were treated like rock stars. The Director of the Band, David Ladd, the parents, the band, our tour guides (Martin and Oriole), and bus drivers are all so very proud of how much joy these young musicians brought to the town of Segovia.

There are so many wonderful stories, but one of the best is  that after the show and old man in his eighties, came up to one of the Dad's (Norm Sheid) and was very excited speaking rapidly in Spanish. Soon behind him followed his son with tears streaming down his face. He told Norm in English that his father was telling him that another Ambassador's band had come to Segovia over 30 years ago. He went on to say his father had Alzheimer's and had not spoken at all in some time.  The band's music had stirred something deep in his father. He was overjoyed that he had seen his father reconnect with this world and experience such joy.  He was very grateful for this wonderful gift.

It's hard to know how this tour affects the people who come to the Ambassador's performance.
I can tell you I have also been moved in ways I could not have imagined.

Segovia was great place to tour as well! The Alcazar of Segovia is a Castle that was incredible.

I thought it was cool to also see a Church of Templar; of the Knights of Templar Fame. It is said that in the inner chamber they claim to have part of the cross that Christ was crucified on. Martin, our Tour Guide, said that if you took all the peices of that cross together they would go for miles. In other words, that you can not be sure it is true.

The Cathedral in Segovia was designed by the same Architech as the Cathedral in Salamanca.
I have many photo's of both of these; I am amazed by art and the grandeur.  How people in the 12th- 16th centuries were able to build these with scaffolding not cranes. The pipe organs, the sculptures. the tapestries all took so much time to create.