Performing arts groups travel across the country

-Helen Anderson and Annie Valliant

Orchestra

 

On April 3-6, 110 students from the Chamber, Philharmonic and Symphony orchestras will take their spring trip to Colorado to compete in the American Classics Music Festival. This is their second year to participate in the contest. The orchestra students will also have the opportunity to go skiing over the weekend as well as partake in a cooking contest with other members of the Westlake orchestra.

“I'm not sure how smart it is to send a bunch of orchestra kids to a ski resort, but as long as we don't get any broken bones, we'll consider it a success,” sophomore Michelle Suh said. 

“This kind of experience teaches students many things in addition to preparing the music: how to live and get along with one another over a period of several days in rather close, confined travel and living accommodations; how to stay focused, disciplined, and prepared to perform the music at a very high level; and finally how to interact with one another in a social setting away from family and home,” orchestra director Jimmy Edwards said. “It is a maturing experience musically, emotionally and socially.” 

Hyline

 For the first time in more than 15 years, the Hyline will travel out of state for its spring trip. From March 27-30, the Hyline will perform some of its Zenith dances at Disneyland in California. In addition to this, the group will take two rigorous dance classes at world renowned dance studio The Edge. After their hard work the girls will attend the musical Wicked, as well as going shopping and sightseeing. 

“We are all really excited about our trip to L.A,” senior Allison Wong said. “It will be a fun way to end the year and enjoy a vacation together!”

 

Choir

 For 100 members of the mixed and treble chorales, the destination is New York City. The trip, which will take place April 5-8, is the first out-of-state trip that the choir has taken for several years and will offer a vast variety of performance and cultural opportunities for those going. As well as performing at the United Nations, the choir will also get the chance to sing at St. John the Divine, known for its great acoustics. They will also participate in a school exchange, in which they will trade performances with choir students from another school. The choir will also visit most of the major sights of the city, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Statue of Liberty and Times Square. For students who have previously performed in musicals, New York also offers the unique cultural experience of Broadway shows. The choir will see both Mary Poppins and The Phantom of the Opera. All of these events will combine to create a memorable and enlightening trip for the choir.