California Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

Christmas Concert

Sunday, December 18, 2011, 7:30pm

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph

80 South Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113

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2011-2012 Season Highlights

2011 Europe Tour

This summer the California Philharmonic Youth Orchestra traveled to Europe for a concert tour of Austria and the Czech Republic. The tour was organized through Music Celebrations International for CPYO to participate in the "American Celebration of Music in Austria" Festival. This annual concert series was established in 1996 to commemorate Austria's millennium.

While in Austria CPYO performed in the St Andrae Church, across from the palace of Mirabell in the city of Salzburg. After touring the city of Vienna, CPYO presented a concert in the gothic Minoritenkirche Church. From the Habsburg dynasties and the Holy Roman Empire, the Austrian Empire then the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Vienna was left with a galore of imperial and extravagant palaces, churches, abbeys, and monasteries.

The highlight concert was in the Czech Republic where CPYO performed in the beautiful Smetana Hall in Prague. Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, and is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of twentieth century Europe.

The city centre of Vienna and the extensive historic centre of Prague were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. During the tour CPYO visited castles, palaces, and many historical places. For some this was the first time to travel to Europe, and the first time to experience European cultures and arts, people, food, and baroque and gothic architecture.