Guy Kammerer is an energetically retired high school band director with 34 years of group performance travel.
With extensive experience in both domestic and international travel, his many groups were exposed to extraordinary life changing experiences. Over the years he has led thousands of young people and adults to unique destinations such as China, Puerto Rico, The Bahamas, Australia and Hawaii. Domestic travel adventures have taken groups to Washington DC, St Louis, Nashville, Chicago, Minnesota, and several trips
to the Orlando area. Group travel creates the personal stories within the stories forging the memories, bonds, and relationships that outlast the trip itself. Highlights of some of these powerful travel experiences are available to explore below!
Taking a group of 165 young musicians and adults to China was a humbling, life changing experience for all.
Our groups performed concerts throughout Beijing and Tiajin, for thousands of appreciative Chinese attendees. We shared our talents and love for music by visiting Chinese community schools and spending the day in classrooms, sharing friendly games, activities, and concerts.
Our concert band, orchestra, and jazz ensembles performed an afternoon concert on the Great Wall of China and attracted crowds of hundreds of eager listeners. Our travelers experienced Modern Chinese culture and visited many heritage sites from the earliest Chinese dynasties.
Music Performance Travel to Hawaii was a cultural and historical wonder.
Performing at Pearl Harbor, visiting the Arizona Memorial, the museum, and the famous base brought history alive for the group of musicians and adults. We brought home 2 flags that were flown over the memorial and upon our return, presented them to our local VFW and American Legion at a special concert presentation in honor of our veterans. Visiting Hawaii is an amazing experience, with phone service, currency, no passport requirements, and laws being essentially the same as home. However, when immersed in the culture of traditional Hawaii, one soon discovers how passionate and committed the Hawaiian people are to their traditions and history.
In the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria, plans for our scheduled Performance trip to Puerto Rico took on a completely different purpose!
The trip became one of Hurricane relief extended through musical outreach to disadvantaged Puerto Rican Music Programs.
Through the efforts of the Wauawatosa West Band students partnerships were formed throughout the private sector and local businesses to collect musical instruments, uniforms, drums, supplies, print music, and equipment. Approximately $100,000 worth of materials were shipped to Puerto Rico to be distributed to help out programs who were struggling to provide for their music students.
A combined concert day which included the gifts of music and material concluded with tears of joy all around! Students from all schools formed lasting friendships and felt the pride that came from doing truly meaningful outreach through the power of music.
Throughout our travels, the people and Island of Puerto Rico proved they have earned their reputation as one on the most beautiful Islands on Earth!
Highlights of this tour included performances throughout Sydney and Cairns. Student groups performed an evening dinner dance aboard a Sydney Harbour Cruise ship and entertained the local citizenry under the Marina Bridge throughout the lunch hour the next day.
Our Wisconsin Music Travelers were treated to a magical cultural exchange during a daytime visit to Engadine School. Students and adults alike were grateful to be treated to an authentic Australian lunch on the "Barbie" hosted by the Engadine Music Parents. This provided everyone the opportunity to gather, to share thoughts, impressions, stories, gossip and contact information as two cultures connected through our common purpose of making music together.
The activities for the day concluded with the groups performing together in a shared concert with a standing room only audience!
On other days of the tour, students challenged themselves by learning how to surf in famous Bondi Bay waves! Our activities included a mountain train ride on the Karunda Railway into the rain forest to visit an Aboriginal village, learning about cultural skills such as, boomerang lessons, crafts, food, indigenous animals, and got to witness a humbling public performance by yours truly on the didgeridoo!
The group also was able to spend a day out on the Great Barrier Reef. While out, students were treated to a beach barbecue, and spent the day swimming, snorkeling or Scuba Diving on the largest continuous reef in the world!
This Australian Adventure represents the type of travel magic that travelers deserve and should expect from their tour company and director.
The Orlando Area has long been a favorite destination for group travel. The area has an incredible variety of group activity options These include educational settings, instructional workshops, theme parks, many attractions, and above all, Central Florida is still a great value for your hard-earned dollars.
Nashville has much to offer travel groups. There are many additional sites beyond the well know destinations such as Broadway, Opryland, The Ryman, and Museums etc..
But not to be missed are the many historical attractions such as the Civil War forts and Battlefields from the “Battle of Nashville”, or the nearby “Battle of Franklin site”. Andrew Jackson’s Mansion and grounds, Centennial Park with its amazing Parthenon are both very accessible. The famous barbecue and Nashville Hot Chicken is nothing short of a new cultural experience!
There is much to explore in the Nashville area!
