Report From the Road:
Portland and Calgary Media Share Story of Theft

The President's Page Blog is pleased Kendra Hill, a 3rd-year Biology major from Lacombe, has agreed to submit regular updates as CUC's orchestra tours and performs through BC, Washington, Oregon and California.   

Note:  If you would like to contribute toward the cost of replacing instruments please click here and indicate "Stolen Instrument Replacement" as the purpose of your gift.  Once we have covered replacement costs not covered by insurance, any remaining donated funds will go to general support of CUC's orchestral program.

It’s been a day since the theft, but nothing new has turned up.  We canceled our scheduled morning concert at Portland Adventist Academy and took advantage of internet and fax services at our hotel.  

CUC's Chamber Orchestra just prior to its concert at the Sunnyside SDA
Church in Portland, Oregon.

Once we were ready to head back on the road again, we drove to Sunnyside SDA Church in Portland where we were to perform an evening concert. The rehearsal was interrupted occasionally for interviews with various news stations about the theft. Hopefully the publicity will bring some help. I have a feeling that something big is going to happen, but I’m not sure what. Thankfully, we managed to find a trumpet and an oboe to use for the concert, although we are not sure if we will be able to use them for the rest of the tour. Our concert at Sunnyside was fantastic, and I think that the hardship we are going through is bringing us closer as a group.

                

Although this is a big loss, we still have much to be thankful for. We will continue on our tour, and meanwhile, keep praying for the stolen items to be returned.  Instruments are a musician’s livelihood, and with the loss of passports and ID, we have some orchestra members with no identity. Getting everyone back across the border could prove to be a challenge. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. 

David Benjamin, a 3rd-year Music Performance major from Lacombe is interviewed by a KPTV reporter about the theft of his three trumpets.  You can view this interview here.