Westminster Partners With Czech STO Jazz Orchestra

The following information was provided by Westminster Christian Academy in a news release.

Town & Country – On Wednesday, Oct. 26, The Czech STO Jazz Orchestra visited , where they performed a concert for Westminster students and faculty and enjoyed a tour of the school’s new campus.

The relationship between Westminster and The Czech STO Jazz Orchestra began in the spring of 2011 when the Westminster Chamber Choir and Orchestra traveled to the Czech Republic to perform in a variety of venues.

During their visit, the Westminster choir and orchestra played for and with the STO Orchestra, a product of a large music conservatory in Prague that is run by the brother of an acquaintance of Westminster’s head of school Jim Marsh. Marsh’s acquaintance, Michael Sust, pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel St. Louis, grew up in the Czech Republic and coordinates music tours for U.S. students overseas, as well as Czech students in the U.S.

Westminster Band Director Hugh Jones says the Westminster students enjoyed the camaraderie of the Czech students while on the trip. “Our students loved performing with the Czech fine arts students despite the language barrier,” says Jones. “They all share a common love of music, a universally understood language!”

Marsh says the group’s visit to Westminster is a prime example of Westminster’s vision for global partnerships. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Czech STO Jazz Orchestra in an effort to expand our global awareness at Westminster Christian Academy and expose our students to people from other cultures and nations,” says Marsh.

Jones adds that the STO Jazz Orchestra’s visit presents an opportunity to cultivate an outstanding international relationship. “We want to maintain that connection for years to come,” says Jones.

 One of Jazz St. Louis’ 2011-12 residency artists and member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Sherman Irby, from Jazz at the Bistro in St. Louis – where the STO orchestra will perform one of the nights during their visit – performs at Westminster on Friday, October 28 at 10 a.m. 

 During their 10-day visit to the United States, the STO Jazz Orchestra will also perform at Webster University and at University of Missouri-St. Louis. Additionally, they will enjoy a performance by the St. Louis Jazz Orchestra in Belleville, Ill., on November 4, and they will perform at the fourth annual All Saints Ball, produced by Harvest Bible Chapel St. Louis and held at Westminster, on November 5 at 6:30. During the ball, which includes dinner and dancing, the STO Jazz Orchestra, the Westminster Jazz Band and the Westminster Chamber Choir will all perform. 

Westminster Christian Academy is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school serving 940 students in grades 7–12. Westminster provides an academically diverse student body with knowledge in the traditional liberal arts and the skills and wisdom to apply that knowledge, encouraging students to embrace a biblical worldview and integrate it into every area of life. 

For more information, visit www.wcastl.org.