In the spring of 1966, in the midst of the Cold War, the University of Iowa Symphony Band embarked on a historic European tour, including a 19-day stretch in the Soviet Union. The cultural-exchange trip between the United States and the Soviet Union, two rival superpowers, was a complex event to organize in the contemporary political climate.

"Both sides were interested in learning more about each other but doing so on their own terms, and the exchange was a great way to do that," says Pete Trotter, who was a sophomore bassoon player in the 1966 band. "It was exciting, but just being the age I was, I didn't understand the political stakes of the trip as well as the adults and older students among us."

On Aug. 12, members of the band will reunite in Iowa City for the 50th anniversary of their trip. The weekend-long reunion will include a tour of the new Voxman Music Building; a meeting with Larry Peterson, an author who has written about the band's time in the USSR; and a rehearsal for members who still play music.

The band, comprised of 86 musicians, performed 40 concerts in nine countries as part of a 79-day tour. Himie Voxman, then director of the UI School of Music and namesake of the old and new Voxman Music Buildings, secured sponsorship for the trip through the U.S. Department of State.

Though traveling through U.S.-allied countries such as Belgium, France, and Spain required extensive planning, the Soviet leg of the tour was only possible with precise diplomatic maneuvering by the state department. Political tension between the Western Bloc—the U.S., NATO, and their allies—and the Eastern Bloc—the Soviet Union and members of the Warsaw Pact—was escalating, and both sides were becoming increasingly distrustful of one another.

These conditions nearly led to the Soviet portion of the tour being cancelled, according to the journal kept by Warren Hatfield, the band's assistant conductor.

"Touring negotiations with the Soviets had broken down and the Soviets cancelled that portion of our State Department Tour just prior to when we left (the U.S.)," wrote Hatfield. "...It was (during the tour) that we learned we would be touring Russia after all."

The band was accompanied by several state department liaisons to ensure smooth proceedings, as well as the safety of the band members.

"We were naïve kids who were having fun and exploring," says Trotter, who now lives near Solon, Iowa. "The Department of State representatives were watching things much more closely than we were."

According to Hatfield, the effects of World War II, as well as the ongoing Cold War, could be felt in several countries on the tour, including Germany, which at the time was divided into East and West.

"We were about to enter a divided Germany," wrote Hatfield. "The U.S. and Allies portion which was, at that time, West Germany. Berlin was in the USSR portion, aka East Germany."

The band visited both sides of the Berlin Wall, which divided the city and served as a physical symbol of the political division between the Western and Eastern Blocs.

"The infamous Berlin Wall cuts through what was the exact center of old Berlin," wrote Hatfield. "We saw many memorial wreaths for persons who died trying to escape from East Berlin."

Once inside the Soviet Union, Dave Martin, a tuba player in the 1966 band, says the students were instructed not to do things that would draw unwarranted attention from Soviet officials. This included not taking photos of certain buildings and areas, not leaving the hotel without notifying the group, and not exchanging gifts with locals that might be considered propaganda.

"We were constantly reminded that we were representing three institutions," says Martin, who now lives in Carroll, Iowa, "the university, the band, and ourselves."

Though the tour successfully avoided major incident, the group was observed closely by officials. Hatfield wrote that he was followed on more than one occasion, and he strongly suspected that the hotel rooms were bugged. Martin noticed that when the band traveled by train, they were made to travel only at night, possibly to prevent them from seeing less flattering parts of the Russian countryside.

Almost half of the band members took a course to learn conversational Russian before the trip, but the majority of conversations with locals still required a translator. Martin recalls that political talk was redirected quickly in order to preserve civil communication. On one occasion, while speaking to a Russian student, Martin noticed a particularly indiscreet attempt.

"Despite the language barrier, obviously names and certain words would still be recognizable to us," says Martin. "The student spoke a lot of Russian too quickly for us to follow, but in the middle of his question we heard him say 'Vietnam.' And then the translator turned to us and asked us, 'So, how many siblings do you have?'"

Despite underlying tension, the citizens of the Soviet Union were warm, courteous, and interested in learning about American life, Martin says.

"People are very similar no matter where you go," he says. "They were happy to speak with us and share about their own lives with us."

Their enthusiasm extended to recital halls as well, where Soviet audiences often were delighted by the band's performances, with a 12-encore, 30-curtain call performance in Kiev, Ukraine, serving as a particular highlight.

Fifty years later, the band members still cherish their memories of the tour. At the time, many of them had never left the Midwest before, let alone the United States. The trip forged many lifelong friendships as well.

"We ate, traveled, shared new experiences, and performed together for months," says Martin. "It's only natural that we'd form a strong bond. We've come together for reunions before, and it's always wonderful."

Trotter, who was on the planning committee for the 50th reunion, values each reunion immensely.

"Everyone remembers different pieces of this unique, shared memory," he says. "It was an important event in all of our lives, and the reunion is a great opportunity to reflect on it together."

Editor's note: The University of Iowa will celebrate the grand opening of the Voxman Music Building on Friday, Oct. 21.  For details about that event, visit inspire.uiowa.edu.