Today was our last day in Utsunomiya. It was filled with joy, laughter, and tears as we made memories that will last a lifetime and said goodbye to our host families.

After the concert today we exchanged gifts and took pictures with our sections, thanking each other for the time that we have shared. The bond that we were able to build in such a short period of time is one that I will never forget. After just four short days these students have become our friends and our band family. We shared traditions, experiences, memories, and emotions.

Among the many experiences that we share was the traditional ending to WCCB concerts. Students shared in our joy and our tears as we said our goodbyes to two of our seniors as they conducted. Sharing the end of concerts has been one of the very unique experiences of this tour, it has helped to create a connection deeper than that of just making music together, it connects our hearts.

Not only did we connect with students, but with our host families. For many of us, dinner following the concert was the last time that we were able to spend with our host families.

After a fun dinner at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, my host family walked me back to the hotel and we said a heartfelt goodbye. With tears in our eyes we wished each other the best, hugged and struggled to actually walk away. I couldn’t have asked for a more welcoming and loving host family to have my last home stay with.

My memories from my time in Utsunomiya will stick with me for the rest of my life.

-Sarah Yotter (Class of 2019)