Torrance, CA (April 10, 2013): Easter break proved to be a memorable time for members of the Bishop Montgomery High School music department and their families. Last weekend, the BMHS Music Department traveled to Washington, D.C. for their first-ever Spring Tour. In all, 47 students and 30 family members spent five days and four nights seeing everything they could: touring the monuments, memorials, museums, government buildings, and even a side trip to Gettysburg!
“My goal is always to take the students somewhere new and give them the richest experience possible,” explained BMHS Music Director Eric Hankey. “We want our youth to grow up with an appreciation of how people live all around the world, and Washington, D.C. is a tremendous place to foster that kind of understanding.” The students met college students at Howard University and Catholic University, and they immersed themselves in the culture and history of our nation's capital and Gettysburg. In addition to visiting memorials and museums, some of them even took part in the National Pillow Fight at the Washington Monument! The students and their families were also treated to a special tour guide on their trip – Mr. Hankey’s brother, Michael, who is a diplomat in the U.S. State Department. "Seeing all the monuments, especially the White House, was the most fun," explained freshman James Chapman '16, a member of Music Production.
“Of course, this was also a performance trip,” added Hankey. The students presented a one hour concert at the World War II Memorial, including BMHS’ Music Production, Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, and several small ensembles. “I'm very cautious of over-emphasizing the significance of a single performance; however, the students knew it was important to be prepared, and they really came through,” explained Hankey. "It was special to play in front of the World War II Memorial," explained junior flutist Rachel Quast '14. Even though it was a cool and windy day, the concert was very well attended by over 100 other tourists and Washington, D.C. residents. “The audience members I talked to were very impressed with their performance, their attitude, and their dressy-casual uniforms - and especially, our bagpiper,” added Hankey.
"The best part of the trip was not only seeing the monuments with the group, but I really enjoyed getting to know my band-mates and classmates better on this trip," added Quast.
Trip Highlights:
Thursday: Arlington National Cemetery - Changing of the Guard and Eternal Flame; Lincoln Memorial; Korean War Memorial; DC Veterans' Memorial; Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial; FDR Memorial; Jefferson Memorial; Washington Monument; World War II Memorial; Constitution Gardens; Vietnam Wall; Einstein Memorial; Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Millennium Stage concert of "Great Noise Ensemble."
Friday: Group pictures at Washington Monument and White House Ellipse; Performance at World War II Memorial; Tours of Howard University, Catholic University, and Basilica of the Immaculate Conception; National Zoo.
Saturday: Capitol tour; Air and Space Museum; American History; Natural History; Freer-Sackler; National Botanical Gardens; National Pillow Fight at Washington Monument; Holocaust Museum; Ford's Theater; Spy Museum; National Portrait Gallery.
Sunday: Gettysburg battlefield tour, including Eisenhower Farm tower lookout and Devil's Den Civil War reenactment.