Vero Beach was alive with the “Sound of Music” as guests danced the night away at an Evening of Viennese Waltz last Saturday at the St. Andrew’s Island home of Bill King and Libby Thompson.
When King and Thompson learned the Vero Beach High School Orchestra had been invited to perform at the 10-day American Celebration of Music in Austria, they wanted to help make the trip a reality. The invitation to Austria came after a stellar performance in New York City last year.
“We’re doing this to not only support them in their musical pursuits but to help bridge the gap for a trip that is going to be an eye-opening experience for these kids,” King explained.
“Most students will be taking their first international trip,” said Orchestra Director Matthew Stott. “Many have never seen a mountain. None have been to Austria. I cannot believe what the Kings are doing for us. They are transforming their home into a ballroom and have spent countless hours preparing for this event.”
Music filled the crisp, night air in the ballroom, on the back lawn and from the balcony, and with each note it was apparent why the orchestra had been invited to perform this summer in Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck and Vienna.
“I’ve always wanted to have a Viennese waltz event,” admitted King. “Just remove all the furniture, roll up the carpet and there you have the perfect space for a waltz. The acoustics of the room with its marble floor and high ceiling; it sounded beautiful.”
Professional dance instructors John Thompson and Ivy King [no relation to the hosts] were on hand to help guests brush up on their steps, with Thompson relating that the idea is to enjoy the whole experience; the ball, the music and the dance. He called out the steps as pairs of dancers walked gracefully around the dance floor, before guests eventually gave the waltz a whirl. Additionally, Oleg and Asya Dimitrov, Royal Ballroom Dance Studio owners and world champion Argentine tango dancers, delighted with a tango demonstration.
Thanking guests for attending the event, Bill King shared that before the evening students had been $35,000 short of meeting their $240,000 goal. After contributions to the ball were tallied, a flurry of additional donations, matched by King, were offered and resulted in the total goal being met. As a consequence, all 60 students will now be able to make the trip.
“Mr. Stott told the kids to ‘use your talent to help pay for the trip.’ They have been performing as street musicians and at special engagements,” said Kelly Donnelly, whose son was able to raise 100 percent of the money he needed for the trip.
“Not all parents can write a check for $4,000, and not all of the kids have parents who can help them raise the money. These kids work really hard at their music and have done car washes, held yard sales, performed in concerts and more to raise the money for this trip,” explained Donnelly.
“I can’t wait to go to the places I learned about in AP World History. It’s one thing to learn about it in books, but it’s another thing to actually be there,” said sophomore Marie Camacho, who has never traveled outside the U.S.
In the words of Ludwig van Beethoven, “music can change the world.” It’s certainly changing the world of VBHS students.
For more information or to donate, visit VeroBeachOrchestra.com.
