Our first stop was in Pittsburgh, PA. We visited the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium and saw all types of animals including flamingos, monkeys, cheetahs, sharks, and more. During our time at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, most of our band and chorus members had a special luncheon at the Jambo Grill right on the hills of the Zoo. From burgers to chicken to salads, it was delicious!
After our trip to the Zoo, we went to the Carnegie Science Center, which was right next to the stadium where the Pittsburgh Steelers play. There were interesting artifacts and fascinating things like the planetarium, a tour of a U.S. submarine, an area where the train station was, and learning about the human body. Along with the Carnegie Science Center, there was a place where science and technology played a huge role in sports. That place was called Highmark Sportsworks—a place where gravity and integrity play a specific role in the human body.
We came to dinner in Pittsburgh, which was at the Hard Rock Cafe located in the heart of Pittsburgh. While having a fabulous dinner, special guest Kelley Jeanne, a Nashville country artist and Pittsburgh native, joined us while setting up for one of her night performances in Pittsburgh. We would like to thank her for a guest appearance and for her to take our big group picture before we headed west.
The next day, we took ourselves to Cleveland. Our first stop was at Case Western Reserve University. The band had a clinic masterclass by Ryan Scherber, professor and Director of Bands in the Department of Music and the College of Arts and Sciences. The chorus and color guard had the same feeling as the band when preparing for their performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Then comes that amazing moment, when we performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Our chorus performed first and had an amazing performance. One of their biggest selections included the very well-known Irish tune “Loch Lomond”. As for the band and color guard, they had an impactful performance that “rocked and rolled”. Selections include “Jump” by Van Halen, “Back in Black” by ACDC, and “Iron Man” and “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath.
After our performance, we went into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to experience not just the genre of rock and roll, but the genres of Hip-Hop and Soul. This time of year is usually busy because of the 2024 inductees to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
After our fun at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we had an amazing dinner at Margaritaville before getting ready to go see the Cleveland Orchestra their spring performance The Rite of Spring, featuring Milhaud “Le Boeuf sue le toit”, Gershwin “Concerto in F”, and Stravinsky “The Rite of Spring”. It was a breathtaking performance by these professional musicians and artists.
On the last day of the trip, our group took a trip to the Cleveland Museum of Art. Between the Oriental sculptures, the American-made lithographs, and the views, the museum was breathtaking and incredible to see these fascinating works of art.
After our trip to the Cleveland Museum of Art, we went back to the hotel to get fancy for our dinner dance. Although our event was originally planned for the Lady Caroline, due to some unforeseen circumstances, we had it at a beautiful banquet hall instead. While at the dance, we had other guests who were representing the sorority Kappa Delta join us on the dance floor that night. From everyone’s point of view, it was a great night for both parties to celebrate an incredible journey that most haven’t done before.
In conclusion, our PPBHS music department was well represented and well respected when traveling to these two American cities. Our students and faculty that are involved in this department have contributed so much to make them better and do great things in the future. We cannot wait to see what happens next!
