BRAINERD — On a rain-soaked early morning, June 6, 47 travelers — students, community members, professional music educators, and companions — gathered at Central Lakes College to begin a journey that would transcend borders, generations and musical traditions.
Representing the diversity of our campus and community, they boarded a Northstar Motorcoach bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, their first step toward an unforgettable travel-study experience spanning Europe and Asia Minor.
The group, led by Central Lakes College Music Instructor Jonathan Laflamme, embarked on the second international music tour in as many years, designed to enrich ensemble members with global cultural exposure and collaborative experiences beyond the rehearsal hall.
Athens: Where ancient music breathes
After navigating the modern challenges of air travel, delays, cancellations and overbookings, the group arrived in Athens, Greece, on time! Using the Stanley Hotel with its rooftop pool overlooking the Acropolis as a home base, participants immersed themselves in the cultural, historical and musical tapestry of one of the world’s oldest cities.
June 8 brought an in-depth tour of the Acropolis and surrounding landmarks, while optional itineraries explored Greek culture from antiquity to the present. Evenings were filled with shared stories and reflections, fostering bonds that would ripple through future ensemble performances.
A floating home: Voyager of the Seas
On June 9, the group boarded Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, their “floating hotel that moves at night.” Laflamme emphasized the pedagogical and logistical benefits of using a cruise ship: “When meals, hydration and safety are seamlessly handled, participants are free to focus on experiencing each destination fully, returning each night to regroup, reflect and revel in professional musical entertainment.”
Daily rhythms onboard included early breakfasts, full days of cultural immersion ashore and elegant formal dinners where participants exchanged insights and discoveries. Evenings offered world-class entertainment, from musicals and tribute concerts to ice shows featuring former Olympians. The ship became a place where music department members even performed impromptu sets at the piano bar and karaoke stage.
Asia Minor and beyond: Where cultures converge
The first port, Kuşadası, Turkey, opened doors to the ancient city of Ephesus, where remarkably preserved ruins narrated stories from 3,000 years ago. Participants also visited the last documented home of the Virgin Mary and the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Their local guide, Cengiz — whose daughter plays volleyball in the Minnesota State system — infused the day with warmth and connection.
Two days on Santorini followed, blending history, geology, music and cuisine atop the island’s iconic caldera cliffs. A day at sea en route to Sicily provided rest and onboard activities ranging from live art auctions to the international belly flop competition (one traveler earned a medal).
In Messina, Sicily, travelers witnessed centuries of cultural fusion at a church that survived earthquakes and two world wars, serving Byzantine Christians, Arab Muslims, Norman Vikings, Spanish Catholics and now Italian Catholics. At noon, they marveled at the Orologio Astronomico di Messina, an astronomical clock performing its intricate mechanical show for over 500 years.
Next was Naples, Italy, where most explored Pompeii’s hauntingly preserved frescoes and mosaics, while others ventured through catacombs adorned with first and second-century mosaics or toured ancient aqueducts dating back to 1000 B.C. Culinary adventures revealed the origins of pizza minus the tomato sauce, as tomatoes arrived from the Americas centuries later.
The final port, Civitavecchia, brought the group to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport for their journey home.
Music, travel and transformation
“This was never about checking destinations off a list,” Laflamme reflected. “It’s about shaping global citizens and inspiring musicians to hear, feel and interpret the world differently. Ensembles simply create better music when they know each other beyond the rehearsal hall.”
This ethos defined Laflamme’s two decades of leading international travel experiences for students. The CLC Music Department’s 2023 tour visited Spain, France, Monaco, and Italy, while future plans include a 2027 itinerary between England and Western Europe, currently under proposal for review in fall 2025.
The college’s Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Anne Nelson Fisher stated: “The Music department is investigating future travel-study cruise opportunities between England and western Europe. A proposal will be reviewed beginning this fall semester, and we hope to have more details early in 2026.”
Central Lakes College music: A growing legacy
Central Lakes College boasts 10 performance ensembles featuring professional music educators, music majors and lifelong learners from the community. The department’s reputation for excellence was recently affirmed with an invitation for the Central Lakes Wind Symphony to perform at the 2025 Minnesota Music Educators Association State Convention.
“CLC’s musical ensembles are open to PSEO high school junior-seniors, CLC students, community members and professional music educators,” Laflamme said, noting Postsecondary Enrollment Options.
Auditions for all ensembles are set between 4-8:30 p.m. Aug. 25.
Travel-study opportunities like this are offered as part of a Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Travel Study Program, reinforcing the college’s commitment to experiential learning.
For more information on joining a musical ensemble or participating in future travel opportunities, contact Jonathan Laflamme at
or call 218-855-8215.
