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Reminder Assistant Editor HAMPDEN Matthew Sterling is counting the days and the dollars to a young musician's opportunity of a lifetime. The Minnechaug Regional High School senior has been selected as one of the state's top musicians for the second year in a row. His reward will be a 19-day European concert tour with the top high school music makers from every state. Although this player of violin, viola, percussion, keyboard and trumpet certainly has the talent for the task, he still needs the funds. "When I was put up against the people who are the top in every state, I saw how much I need to practice," Sterling said. "It is a really good experience and you make a lot of new friends." After raising $1000, he needs to make an additional $3,200 for the whirlwind tour with the United States Youth Ensemble. Sterling is doing just about everything to meet his goal. From playing events for donations to teaching CPR, he is determined to raise funds in any way he can. Sterling's newest strategy is to sell advertisement space to local businesses in a music-themed calender he will produce. Each ad runs at $75 with all proceeds going toward his trip. "My friends are a bit jealous, they all wish they could go," he said. "The whole point of it is to meet new people." Once Sterling arrives in Frankfurt, Germany, the group will play some famous venues of Europe including the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Luxembourg Gardens. The Ensemble will even record a compact disc in the acoustically perfect concert hall, Salle de Musique. The most amazing performance of last year's tour? According to Sterling it was a concert he played in the lakeside city of Lucerne in the Swiss Alps. "I couldn't ask for a better place to play," he said. "Just the site of it was absolutely amazing." Other scheduled stops will include Bavaria, Germany, Paris, Venice, Switzerland and the Netherlands. In their free time last year, the group toured old cathedrals, took river cruises, went out to dinner and visited a french carnival. Although he loved seeing the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Louvre, Sterling had a more modest favorite. "The Swiss Alps," he said. "Going through those made the bus ride a lot more enjoyable." While he doesn't intend to make a career in music, Sterling would like to come back to his high school and help the marching band after he graduates this year. Next fall, he hopes to go to Greenfield Community College for an Associates Degree in fire science. Sterling's goal is to work for the Wilbraham Fire Department where he is currently an intern. For more information or to make a donation, call 214-4377. | ||||||
