Jul 4, 2015 4 min read

Doug Kowalewski never expected that within a year of graduating from Carmichaels High School, he would be heading to Europe as an anticipated performer.

Kowalewski will be participating as a tenor saxophonist in the Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble’s sixth European Tour.

The 14-day trip began July 1 and will feature performances in jazz festivals in Turkey, Italy and France.

The ensemble will be performing on outdoor stages as a part of multiple jazz festivals. The group of 18 will execute five performances for thousands of jazz fans all throughout Europe while also getting to explore the area and culture.

For Kowalewski, this opportunity shows him how all of his hard work since fifth grade has paid off.

“When you get to fifth grade at Carmichaels, they ask you what instrument you want to play and you have to have a music class with the band for a little while just to see if you like it or not,” Kowalewski said.

Kowalewski chose the saxophone and fell in love with it from the very beginning.

“When I play the saxophone, it just feels like I’m meant to play it because it sounds so right,” Kowalewski said.

He continued past the mandatory time period to play with the band, and was placed in the high school marching band a year early while still in eighth grade. But the one experience he attributes to his current success is the opportunity he sought out to play in the orchestra pit for the high school musicals.

“(The orchestra pit) is the complete opposite style of music than the marching band. It is much more difficult,” Kowalewski said.

This opportunity got him into the routine of vigorous practice and skill level performances that later led him to the jazz ensemble.

Upon graduation, the valedictorian of the 2014 senior class had already committed to Gettysburg College. It had been his dream school since ninth grade due to his love for history and the Civil War, the large music programs and the level of education that he said is “unrivaled.”

As he entered into his freshmen year as a psychology and history major, Kowalewski knew he also wanted to further his instrumental music abilities and focus on jazz.

“It’s just a very positive music,” Kowalewski said. “I can’t listen to jazz and be like, ‘Oh that makes me sad.’ I could never ever feel that. It makes me feel good.”

He had read about the jazz ensemble and knew that he wanted to be a part of the group, but also recognized that only five saxophonists were accepted out of the entire school.

“I was really unsure about getting in,” Kowalewski said.

To his surprise, after his first performance, band Director John “Buzz” Jones asked him if he would play tenor saxophone – a much larger version than the alto saxophone he was used to playing.

The next day, Jones handed him a tenor saxophone and Kowalewski played the best that he could. A week passed and when Jones finally taped the list outside his office door, the fourth name down was Douglas Kowalewski.

“He represents what I really like to see in the band,” Jones said, adding that Kowalewski is one of only two freshmen in the group.

Kowalewski immediately began planning for the European tour with his parents, holding fundraising events at local restaurants, selling hoagies and also fundraising through band performances up at school.

“I’m excited about everything; performing, just to be there. Maybe I’m excited for the unexpected. You never know what is going to happen,” Kowalewski said.

Kowalewski never thought he would get an opportunity like this, but he realizes that what he is about to experience will be one he remembers forever.

“I’m just really excited about going there,” Kowalewski said. “That’s the bucket list, the whole thing, being there.”