The Stillwater High School Band program sent all three of its concert bands to San Diego over spring break, capping the trip with a performance on the flight deck of the USS Midway aircraft carrier.
The March trip marked the first time all three concert bands — the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble — have traveled together on an out-of-state trip, a milestone that reflects the program's recent growth. All told, 127 students made the trip, accompanied by 30 chaperones including the band directors.
The bands first participated in educational clinics at the University of San Diego, then performed that afternoon at the USS Midway, now a museum docked in San Diego Bay. The Wind Ensemble closed the performance with renditions of "America the Beautiful" and the "Midway March" as museum visitors toured the flight deck.
"It was a very unique experience for our students to not just perform on an aircraft carrier, but one with such historical significance as the USS Midway," said Stillwater Public Schools Director of Bands Kevin Zamborsky.
Stillwater Bands takes an out-of-state trip for its high school students every other year. Past trips have included concert performances in Chicago and Carnegie Hall in New York City. The Pioneer Marching Band has marched in La Grande Parade de Paris along the Champs-Elysées on New Year's Day, and in a parade at Walt Disney World.
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"Educational travel experiences play a critical role in student development, as for some of our students, this was their first opportunity to fly commercial or be so far from home," Zamborsky said. "Not only is the performance a memorable experience, but our students get to experience new environments, cultures, and perspectives."
This is the first school year the program has featured three concert bands performing in the winter and spring. Zamborsky conducts the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble; Sean Gartner conducts the Symphonic Band.
"Adding the third band not only shows how much our program has grown, but also allows us to spend more instructional time with our students at their proper skill level," Zamborsky said. "This has created an opportunity for the Wind Ensemble to have its own block for classroom instruction, which is beneficial for many of those students who plan to pursue music in college or beyond."
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