A family built by music

At this time of year, we cannot help but think of family - the families we are born into and the families we build. This week in Austria a family was built; a family of joyful singers with hearts and spirits full of love, a New England family that melded their voices into perfect unison in Vienna and Salzburg, a family augmented by a vivacious and loving Viennese guide, a Vermont wife and husband team that helped to cap an experience of a lifetime. Tonight, for the last time, we all joined in song - guides, professionals, singers and groupies to create magic on Christmas.

Susie Stevens said, “this trip has been one unforgettable, undeserved gift after another and after that, I don’t know what to say ... I could not have earned one of these.”  But as Julie Andrews sang, we must have done something good. We, each of us, feel incredibly blessed to have been brought together for this musical adventure of a lifetime. Vielen dank, many thanks, for sharing it with us. It is our familes at home, the ones we are born into and the ones we have built that helped to create a new family here in Austria and we will be forever grateful.

Singers

Groupies

P.S. Did I mention the group gave an incredible performance with Elisabeth von Trapp today to an esteemed audience at Schloss Leopoldskron?  Amazing!  More on that in the morning ... Merry Christmas!