Students from seven schools in Chautauqua County recently participated in the EMPIRE tour with American Music Abroad.
Submitted photo

Twenty-five students from high schools throughout Chautauqua County recently returned from the EMPIRE tour with American Music Abroad. Their 20-day tour included Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, where they performed 7 concerts and experienced cultural dinners, sightseeing, and museum tours.

Students performed in string orchestra, choir, and concert band, under head directors Rich and Christine Riederer. Local band director J. Nicole Zenns from Cassadaga Valley conducted two pieces with the concert band, and continues to serve as Chautauqua County recruiter for AMA Empire Tour. Another tour is planned for July 2025.

Students are listed by school and instrument below:

Cassadaga Valley High School: Gia Knott, flute; Miranda Ryen, alto saxophone; James Mullen, bari sax; Angelica Mullen, trumpet; Cathryn Russell, French horn; Skyler Szablewski, euphonium; Aubre Bonasera, percussion.

Chautauqua Lake Secondary School: Daniel Klinek-Cornell, choir; Eve Kushmaul, trumpet & choir; Lydia Kushmaul, French horn & choir; Meghan Pauley, choir; Caleb Prewitt, euphonium; Eliot Reyda, trumpet.

Dunkirk High School: Michael Brown, euphonium.

Fredonia High School: Grant Abbey, bass; Jackson Gollnitz, trombone.

Jamestown High School: Olivia Beach, French horn & choir; Hayden Langford, French horn & choir; Alison Latona, flute & choir; Adrianna McSkimming, clarinet & choir; McKenna Schneider, trombone & choir.

Silver Creek High School: Emily Bowers, trumpet; Sam Bowers, trombone.

Southwestern High School: Dorian Weaver, trumpet; Alana Weaver, percussion.