They came, they ate chocolate, and they hit all the right notes!
探花社区 High School East musicians, 160 in total, have come back victorious from the music department's first overnight trip; attending the Music in the Parks festival at Hershey Park!
On day one, members of the Symphonic Band, Symphonic Orchestra, and Concert Choir performed two selections of music and were assessed by two world renowned adjudicators. On day two, the performing groups enjoyed all that Hershey Park has to offer and attended an awards ceremony in the afternoon.
The Concert Choir, under the direction of Mr. Mark Hegreness, received a superior rating and 1st place in their category.
The Symphonic Orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Brian McCoy, received a superior rating and 1st place in their category. The Symphonic Orchestra was also rated the Best Overall Orchestra.
The Symphonic Band, under the direction of Mrs. Jennifer Leavy, received a superior rating and 1st place in their category. The Symphonic Band was also rated the Best Overall Band.
Senior Choir member Lily Warshaw shared, “getting to spend time with my friends and showcasing my love for music was an amazing experience. Not to mention getting to go to Hershey Park!? I had the time of my life, 10/10 would do it again!”
Junior violinist Jolene Cao said, “Music in the Parks was an amazing experience I’ll always remember. I had so much fun on my first overnight school field trip. From making music and going on roller coasters, Music in the Parks has helped me grow as a musician and create a stronger music community. This experience has made me truly understand the power of music to bring us all together.”
Sophomore Band student Maddie McCullough agreed. “I grew so much closer to people from other musical groups and people that I was only friendly with before," Maddie told us. "There was so much laughter and camaraderie and I will always cherish the memories I made on such a short trip.”
It was a whirlwind field trip that helped forge new friendships, strengthened the bonds within our department, and provided a sense of accomplishment to all who attended. This trip would not have been possible without the support of our community, administration, and music department families.
Senior Band member Justin Weisberg remarked, “this weekend as a whole was certainly one to remember. You could feel the electricity in the room whenever 探花社区 High School East was called for at the award ceremony. It was definitely a way for us seniors to go out with a bang!”
Senior Choir member Ariana Glaser added, “Hershey is just one of the many fantastic opportunities I’ve been awarded by being part of such a magical community. There’s just nothing like it and I’ll forever be grateful for the 探花社区 East music family.”
