Jim Laughlin spent 2 weeks touring Cuba with an international orchestra

On a recent morning in downtown Havana, Dr. Jim Laughlin saw some kindergartners immersed in a dance-exercise class on a roped-off section of a street near his hotel. Inspired, he grabbed his saxophone and hastened to ask their teacher if he could play for them.

His ensuing rendition of When the Saints Go Marching In prompted a spontaneous marching parade of delighted children, a scene the woodwind aficionado is not likely forget.

“It was really something, a brief but memorable occurrence on a very rewarding, event-filled journey,” recalled Laughlin, professor of music at Amarillo College.

Laughlin jumped at a rare invitation to visit Cuba Aug. 30 – Sept. 14 as a member of the IHS World Orchestra, a nonprofit organization that plays throughout the world. Laughlin was asked by a friend to fill in for a regular member who was unable to attend, and he used the opportunity to showcase his talents as a featured soloist on the tenor sax.

The IHS World Orchestra visited Cuba with twin objectives: to serve as a musical mission trip as coordinated through the Baptist Church of Havana, and to promote cultural exchange by invitation of the Cuban Ministry of Culture.

Joined on the sojourn by musicians from the United States, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Israel, Cuba, and beyond, the orchestra performed every day and sometimes twice. They played at churches, medical facilities, a hospice, retirement centers, schools, and even a concert hall of historic note.

Also featuring a couple singers, they played traditional big band selections that highlighted the different countries represented by the players – feel-good music, from Polka and Tango to American Swing, Bossa Nova and Rumba, to which audiences enthusiastically danced.

“In each performance, we set out to lift the spirits of the audience, and we were always well-received and appreciated,” said Laughlin, creator of Amarillo College’s Jim Laughlin June Jazz concert series and longtime member of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra.

“Everywhere we went we could tell the people of Cuba had a strong sense of community; they were always smiling and friendly, and we traveled the streets at night with very little fear. It was a truly great experience, the trip of a lifetime.

“But we certainly also saw poverty,” he said. “It was very evident, and there was a sense of desperation, too. Most impactful for me, I think was how much it made me appreciate what we have in our own country. The people of Cuba do not have a lot of things we take for granted. I came away from Cuba with an appreciation for the wonderful people and their many wonderful musicians, but I also came home feeling very blessed."

To balance his commitment to the orchestra with his responsibilities at Amarillo College – the fall semester was in full swing during his brief absence – Laughlin meticulously prepared for his classes in advance. “It worked out amazingly well,” he shared. “The students all worked on projects and came together more quickly than in previous years, and I was able to immerse myself fully in the travel experience.”

Laughlin’s gratitude extends beyond the College and his students. While most of his travel expenses were covered, he acknowledged the support of his church, Pinnacle Community Church, which helped fund the trip’s missionary aspect.

Additionally, Laughlin expressed his appreciation for Tarpley Music of Amarillo, which donated three new flutes that he presented to a school for young musicians the IHS World Orchestra supports.

Laughlin’s journey to Cuba not only enriched his musical repertoire and added to his storehouse of international friends, it deepened his understanding of the human spirit, highlighting the universal language of music that transcends borders and brings people together.

“The wonderful people over there and their incredible musicians opened my eyes to so much,” Laughlin said.

At tour's end, the orchestra was invited by representatives of Cuba's Ministry of Culture to return for a repeat concert tour in the future. Laughlin says he would love to go, especially if they will be treated not to the aging downtown hotel they stayed in this time, but to the high-end, government-owned beachside accommodations that lure myriad tourists to the island nation.

"I can see myself going to Cuba again," Laughlin said. "On this trip we got to experience some pieces of the red carpet, to be sure, but I'd honestly like to go back and have a chance to enjoy the whole carpet."

And very likely another Cuban cigar.