Day 2: Travel to Mesa, Arizona

The sun sets over downtown Mesa.

Todd Rosenberg Photography

On Saturday, Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians took off for Mesa, Arizona, the first destination of their North American tour. Before the inaugural concert at the Mesa Arts Center, some musicians explored the city, while others reconnected with their roots and spent time with relatives and friends. On Sunday morning, musicians attended a celebratory welcome brunch, hosted by longtime CSO supporters John and Megan Anderson.

One of the newest CSO members, bassist Daniel Carson boards the bus at Symphony Center for the trip to O’Hare.

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John Sharp, principal cello, heads for the bus that will transport the CSO to the airport.

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CSO musicians, including trombonist Michael Mulcahy. queue up for the ride to O'Hare.

Todd Rosenberg Photography

At O'Hare, CSO musicians check their baggage and get their boarding passes.

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Violinist Susan Synnestvedt prepares to drop her bag off at Southwest’s ticket counter at O’Hare.

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Assistant Principal Bassoon William Buchman checks his phone before boarding the flight to Mesa.

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Before the flight, violist Wei-Ting Kuo flashes the thumbs-up sign.

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Cellist Loren Brown flashes a smile as he boards the flight to Mesa.

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From pavements to peaks, the scenery starts to take shape as the plane approaches Mesa, Arizona.

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Associate Principal Horn Daniel Gingrich and horn Susanna Gaunt disembark in Mesa.

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Guido Frackers of TravTours directs musicians to the exit for the buses for the ride to the hotel.

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Stephen Williamson, principal clarinet, and oboe Lora Schaefer are greeted by Schaefer’s aunt, who lives in Arizona.

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Framed by saguaro cactus. bass Brad Opland heads to the musicians' hotel.

The flute section is reunited as piccolo Jennifer Gunn, who traveled earlier to Arizona, meets up with Principal Flute Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson and Assistant Principal Flute Yevgeny Faniuk.

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Second trumpet John Hagstrom takes in the sights of downtown Mesa.

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Violinist Sando Shia works on plans as she walks through downtown Mesa.

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Stagehand Todd Snick enjoys dinner with his nephew Trevor, who is studying at Arizona State University.

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Stagehand Paul Christopher meets up with family members, who live in the Mesa area.

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Governing Member and host John Anderson greets Keith Buncke, principal bassoon, as he arrives for brunch.

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Guests take in the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.

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CSOA Governing Member Megan Anderson, a former horn player, poses with members of the CSO horn section — James Smelser, David Griffin and Associate Principal Horn Daniel Gingrich and CSOA President Jeff Alexander, also a former horn player. Anderson and her husband John Anderson both performed in the Northwestern University Marching Band during their college years.

Todd Rosenberg Photography