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Ten District 202 high school band students and one middle school band student spent 16 days touring Europe this summer with the Illinois Ambassadors of Music.
Plainfield High School-Central Campus band director Dan Valkema, who recently retired, accompanied the group as assistant conductor of the Ambassadors Band. Music directors nominate students for the tour, which was from June 24 to July 9.
The 252-member tour group includes band and choir students from across Illinois, 26 music educator professional staff and some parents. The 16-day trip included five concerts and stops in England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Germany.
Students from District 202 came from Plainfield High School-Central Campus (Abigail Dolate, junior; Justine Luna, junior; Alexandra Martin, senior; Matthew Payton Sanza, sophomore), Plainfield East High School (Luke Belinski, junior; Michelle Edwards, junior; Lea Melissa Everson, freshman; Leah Mims, senior; Elena Sagerian, junior; Hunter Valkema, sophomore) and John F. Kennedy Middle School (Hayden Valkema, seventh grade).