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MHCC Jazz Band returns
with new perspective of Taiwan
The Advocate
The MHCC Jazz Band returned Tuesday from a week-long trip to Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Fourteen members participated and stayed five days in Taiwan performing at different scenes for a part of the celebration of Chinese New Year's. Kaohsiung delegates invited other cities from around the globe to participate as well.
Kaohsiung and Portland are sister cities.
The Jazz Band performed sets numerous times on different occasions. They also were able to tour the country and visit temples, local markets and schools.
"It gave us an idea of how modern and prosperous Taiwan was," said Bob Smith, the lead trombone player.
Students were asked to pay for their plane tickets and were told that everything else would be covered. Initially, Susie Jones, the Jazz Band director, had told the Kaohsiung delegates that they would not be able to attend this year because of financial reasons, Smith said.
But the City of Kaohsiung insisted that the Jazz Band come and offered to cover the outstanding expenses. MHCC did not have to cover any costs, Smith said.
When they arrived in Kaohsiung Feb. 9, they were taken to a modern fine arts museum, Chinese temples and water temples. Later in the day they were able to experience the local market in the evening and ate a traditional Chinese dinner in the market, said Smith.
They were also able to stay in one of the tallest buildings in the city, he said.
They were on the 57th floor.
Over the weekend the group did a small performance on a small stage Saturday, and were able to do a large performance on a big stage in front of the waterfront Sunday.
On Monday, the band went to an elementary school, a high school and a senior home to perform. Some of the students at the high school, who are on the cheerleading dance group, had performed in the Rose Festival parade in Portland as a part of the sister city exchange.
The band was greeted by a marching band and acrobatic dancers as soon as the bus arrived and were entertained as they were escorted into the school.
On the last day, the group took the bus to Taipei where their flight was, and were able to do some sightseeing on the way. They visited the Taipei 101 building, which is the second tallest building in the world with 101 floors.
Susie Jones has taken the MHCC Jazz Band to Taiwan seven times.
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