May 14, 2019
By Kevin Garcia
Staff Writer
Are you ready to have fun? Because the music students are. From May 28-May 31, the band, chorale and color guard will be visiting Washington, D.C.
In addition to their performances, the students will attend a Baltimore Orioles game at Camden Yards, go on a dinner cruise along the Potomac River, visit the Smithsonian museums and take a tour of the United States Capitol.
Freshman Alexis O’Rourke, who plays the alto saxophone, said she is looking forward to the trip because it will give her an opportunity to make lifelong memories and get pumped for the summer.
“I can’t wait to go to the baseball game, and the dinner cruise is going to be amazing. It’s really great when you can have fun and spend time with your best friends,” O’Rourke said.
She said she is particularly excited because she is only a freshman, so this will be her first trip with the band.
“You can’t go to Washington, D.C. without exploring the beautiful museums and seeing all the famous monuments, and I want to make the most out of my first visit there,” O’Rourke said.
She said the trip would not be possible without the supportive members of LHS’ faculty.
“The teachers are so nice and have planned for us to see many things there, and I think that just goes to show their generosity and how devoted they are to their students,” O’Rourke said.
Junior Brandon Ross, who plays the baritone, said he is happy the younger members of the music program will get to experience the joy of the annual trip.
“We have been fortunate enough to go to Disney World and Universal Studios in the recent years, and this year’s trip is just as filled with fun as the others,” Ross said. “Our trips are always fresh and new and exciting, and I can’t wait to go there with my friends and tour the Capitol building together.”
Ross said his anticipation for the trip continues to grow.
“We have been counting down the days on a whiteboard in the band room, hoping the day comes sooner than we realize,” Ross said.
He said he has never been to Washington, D.C. but has always wanted to visit.
“I feel like this trip will be more of a learning experience and educate us on the important history of our nation’s capital in a fun and appealing way,” Ross said.
Color guard coach Ms. DiMaggio, who is an LHS graduate, said this trip is significant to her because it is the first time she will be traveling with the music program to the nation’s capital.
“When I was in high school, there was a sophomore trip for the marching band to go to Washington, D.C., and I had not joined yet,” DiMaggio said.
She said the color guard will be performing with both the band and the chorale. In addition to the performances, DiMaggio said she looks forward to the academic aspect of the trip.
“Our recent trips have taken place at a theme park, and it’s a nice change to have this time be full of museums, tours and history instead of just plain entertainment,” DiMaggio said. “I think it’s really important for [the students] to be able to see and learn about new places other than what they are used to and take that knowledge with them through life.”
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