A Musical Adventure in Washington D.C.

Last weekend, Homer High School band and choir students were given the opportunity to visit Washington D.C., participate in a music competition, and visit some of the many sights the city has to offer. The schedule included a tour of the monuments, a visit to the National Zoo, and trips to a few Smithsonian museums.

The competition was highly successful with Concert Choir, Ruby Rhythms, Blue Notes, and Jazz Band taking first place in their respective categories. Concert Band and Chamber Choir took second place in their respective categories. One senior said his favorite memory was “in the rehearsal room practicing for our performance and it all finally came together. We sounded as good as I knew that we could have, and I knew that all of our hard work was about to pay off.”

After competition on Friday, the group attended a performance of The Wiz at the infamous Ford’s Theater. It was a favorite moment for several members of the group. One student said, “I was really skeptical going in because I didn’t know how it would compare to the version of The Wizard of Oz that I already love, but I was amazed by the dancing and the costumes, and I caught myself humming the songs for the rest of the weekend.”

Saturday morning involved a surprise viewing of the Cherry Blossom Parade right before a visit to the Smithsonian Natural History museum and a pizza lunch in Chinatown Park before a visit to the National Zoo. That night, after dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, students toured the monuments with their chaperone groups, and it was a highlight for many of the students participating. Some students sang in the Lincoln Memorial and said that was a favorite memory. Another student, when asked to describe his favorite memory, said it was “walking inside the Lincoln memorial, I felt very patriotic even though I’m one of the least patriotic people I know.” Another student said that the Lincoln Memorial reminded him of a movie from his government class. A junior said she enjoyed “getting to see such impressive testaments to powerful leaders of the past.” The sun setting over the monuments was a very powerful moment for many students, and it was a nice way to calm down before returning to the hotel.

Overall, everyone enjoyed the bonding that only the trip could facilitate. One freshman enjoyed being able to meet people with similar interests. Another student enjoyed having time to joke around with friends. One thing I think all could agree on is that the memories made with friends will never be forgotten.

Photo credit to Ben Herman.