CFHS band traveling to Washington, D.C.

Ben Olson/Staff Writer

Coming up on March 14, the band will be gearing up to go on their week-long trip, which happens every four years. This year’s destination: Washington, D.C. Traditionally, the trip has taken place during winter break, but this year was switched to spring break primarily for comfortable touring weather in the 60s.

There will be four busses transporting music and students, and after a two-day bus ride from Saturday until Sunday, the fun will begin.

The band will be lodging at the impressive Sheraton National Hotel located downtown. A rooftop pool provides panoramic views of all the monuments and buildings.
After arriving, there will be a late night dinner at the Hard Rock Café.

“I am most excited for Hard Rock. It sounds really cool,” sophomore Phillip Weinert said.
The following day, Monday, both the wind symphony and symphonic band will have an hour clinic with Mark Camphouse, a well-known conductor/composer at George Mason University. Later in the day, various groups will tour the Holocaust Museum Permanent Exhibit and the State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda exhibit. In the evening, everyone will head over to the Kennedy Center for the rare opportunity to watch legendary jazz musician Wynton Marsalis play with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.

On Tuesday, the band will visit the Arlington National Cemetery and witness the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Everyone will then visit the Pentagon and 9/11 Memorial, which was arranged by Sen. Tom Harkin. Finally, the students will cap off the day touring the National Zoo.

On Wednesday, the band will take a picture on the Capitol steps with Congressman Bruce Braley, followed by a Capitol tour arranged by Sen. Chuck Grassley. Later on, the Jazz One and Jazz, Too! bands will hold a concert at the Old Post Office Pavilion. In the afternoon, everyone will tour the Washington Monument and take a monument walk, followed by a dinner at the classic Medieval Times.

Thursday will be purely devoted to the Smithsonian Institute, which consists of 19 different museums. Later in the night, the band will take the Monuments by Night trolley tour.
On Friday, the band will leave D.C. and spend the afternoon at the Kalahari Water Park in Ohio, the world’s largest indoor waterpark, which also offers indoor surfing.

“I’m looking forward to the Holocaust Museum and the indoor waterpark. The pictures I’ve seen of it look awesome,” senior Kristin Aldrich said.

At 10 p.m., the band will depart for Cedar Falls and arrive back on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. That sums up the reward for four years of anticipation and playing from the CFHS band.

 

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