11 photosTour July 2, 2023
Italy 2023, Day 2: Arrival in Rome
Rome · Montecatini
Landing in Rome and a coach to Montecatini in Tuscany.
View photos & story →Tour · 2023 · Toronto All Stars Steel OrchestraItaly 2023
Florence, Cremona, Todi and Montecatini. In the land of opera and violin makers, TASSO played Bach to pop, all on steel. On July 5, 2023 the band played the Loggia dei Lanzi on Florence's Piazza della Signoria. In one musician's words: “The crowd went CRAZY when the band played Black Magic Woman. They even started dancing!”
Where we played
- Florence
- Cremona
- Todi
- Montecatini
Tour stops
11 photos
23 photosTour July 4, 2023
Italy 2023, Day 4: Siena
Siena
A day trip to Siena and its Duomo.
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29 photosTour July 4, 2023
Montecatini – Italy
Piazza Giotto
“Feeling energized, the band waltzed on stage with a smile. We ran our ‘Bang Bang Special’, and the crowd sang along to a number of songs. We closed the night on a great note, even getting pulled into an encore.”
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27 photosTour July 5, 2023
Florence – Italy
The Piazza Della Signoria Square
“The crowd went CRAZY when the band played Black Magic Woman. They even started dancing! The whole crowd was hyped. They didn’t want us to stop! They kept asking for an encore! Unfortunately, we ran out of time and had to pack up the pans.”
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22 photosTour July 6, 2023
Italy 2023, Day 6: Pisa to Cremona
Pisa · Cremona
The Leaning Tower, then on to Cremona, home of Stradivari.
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35 photosTour July 7, 2023
Cremona – Italy
Grand La Piazza Del Comuneb
“Of course, the pinnacle of our trip was our much-anticipated performances. Countless hours of training and preparation led us to this moment, and it was time to shine. In the grand “La Piazza del Comune” setting, we set up our steel pans on the stage. The music resonated through the air as we played an array of captivating songs, including the lively tunes of Mambo Caliente, the soulful rhythms of Brazil, and the heartfelt melodies of I’ll Be Missing You. The audience, a mix of locals and fellow musicians, embraced the contagious energy emanating from our performance. It was evident that many had never witnessed a youth steel pan band before.”
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13 photosTour July 8, 2023
Italy 2023, Day 8: Misano
Misano Adriatico
A long ride to the coast, then straight to the Adriatic.
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30 photosTour July 9, 2023
Piazza Maggiore – Italy
Mondaino at Piazza Maggiore
“It was finally time for us to perform, and let me tell you, the crowd was incredibly welcoming and interactive! As we began to play, people slowly gathered at the front of the stage, and when we played our “bang bang special,” the crowd even started a conga line! Today was another successful day for TASSO’s Italy tour.”
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7 photosTour July 10, 2023
Todi – Italy
Piazza del Popolo
“The band wasn’t just a travelling musical group; it became a family. They worked tirelessly, learning the harmonies, perfecting their timing, and embracing the rich history of steel pan music. To see that effort recognized on a global stage was more than I could have hoped for. It was surreal to sit in an audience so far from home and hear applause erupt for something my child was part of, a reminder of the universal language that music truly is.“
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21 photosTour July 12, 2023
Frascati – Italy
Villa Torlonia Park
“TASSO has opened my son’s eyes to what you can achieve with practice, dedication, and resilience. He has gotten to know fellow musicians from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. He has had thrilling opportunities playing and performing with TASSO. He has made friends for life. Our family is now very involved in Toronto All Stars.“
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