By David LoSardo
Staff Writer
At South, the music department is allowed to take each musical ensemble on a trip to a foreign country over the course of four years. In the cycle, the first year has the orchestra trip, the second year has the band trip, the third year has the choir trip, and the fourth year is a break year, where there is no trip. In March of 2016, the band and color guard will be taking its foreign trip to the “Land of Love”: Italy.
From March 17 to March 24, the 114 member group, which includes the 76 member marching and concert band, winter guard, instructional staff, trip chaperones and some of the students’ family members, will be immersed in the sights, sounds and tastes of the gorgeous country that is Italy.
The group will be exposed to many of the major attractions that the country has to offer over the course of the trip. Following the introductory arrival in Rome, the group will tour Northern Italy for the first three days of the trip, all while staying in the picturesque Montecatini Terme. The first stops are the city of Pisa, which is known worldwide for its famous bell tower, and the city of Pescia.
The group will then tour the city of Sienna, which is famous for its delicious cuisine, gorgeous art and museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio, a horse race that the city holds twice a year. This portion of the trip concludes with a visit to the Sienna Cathedral (Duomo), which is one of the great examples of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture.
The next half of the trip begins as the group transitions from Montecatini Terme to Florence, where the group will receive an informative guided tour. This will include the visiting of many famous aspects of the city, including the Piazza Del Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, and Accademia, where the statue of Michaleangelo’s David is located. In addition, everyone will have ample time for individual sightseeing and shopping.
The group will then check in to Rome, where the last three nights of the trip will be spent. This will be followed by a guided walking tour of Ancient Rome, where the group will see the Capitoline Hill, the Citadel of ancient Rome, the Tarpeian Rock, the Roman Forum, and of course, the world famous Colosseum.
Finally, to finish off the already fascinating and elegant trip, the group will tour the Roman Castel area and the Museums of the Vatican. The group will be able to see the majestic and Renaissance landmarks of the Vatican, including the Sistine Chapel, with its breathtaking frescoes by Michaelangelo, and the Raphael Rooms, which established Raphael’s reputation in Rome.
Following one more night’s stay in Rome, the group will travel to the nearby airport and embark on the plane ride home to America, with countless stories to share from the incredible experience.
Not only will the group be visiting all of these fantastic places in Italy, but both the band and the color guard will be performing multiple times in the country as well. The marching band will be the first ensemble to perform, and will perform in a parade through the city of Lucca. In addition, they will perform with the local parade and flag group called “Gruppo Stroico Sbandieratori”, which will be followed by a performance by the Council Rock South Winter Guard. The concert band will perform as well, and will perform a concert in the state of the arts Citta del Teatro in Cascina. Arguably the most exciting performance though, is the performance by the marching band following the General Papal Audience at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City. These performances will serve to musically enhance the group’s experience as they travel throughout Italy.
As expected, any travel to a foreign country is particularly expensive. With a $3545 cost for students, a $3635-4085 cost for parents and siblings and a $10,000 cost for the entire organization, the students have been determined since the fall of 2015 to raise sufficient funds for the trip. They have accomplished this through various fundraisers and events, such as a carwash, a flea market, a mattress sale, and the annual Council Rock South-hosted winter guard competition “Spin Out at the Rock”. The profits from all of these events combined will be able to provide sufficient funds for the trip to run smoothly.
With the financial situation almost entirely secured and all of the information distributed, the Council Rock South marching band and color guard are in their final preparatory phases for the highly anticipated trip. Both the band and the color guard have been diligently working since November of 2015 in practices and rehearsals to perfect their material for their overseas performances.
Fortunately, all of their hard work and determination will soon be rewarded, as the Council Rock High School South band and color guard will be greeted with an unforgettable and cultured experience in the beautiful country that is Italy.
¡Arrivederci!
Staff Writer
At South, the music department is allowed to take each musical ensemble on a trip to a foreign country over the course of four years. In the cycle, the first year has the orchestra trip, the second year has the band trip, the third year has the choir trip, and the fourth year is a break year, where there is no trip. In March of 2016, the band and color guard will be taking its foreign trip to the “Land of Love”: Italy.
From March 17 to March 24, the 114 member group, which includes the 76 member marching and concert band, winter guard, instructional staff, trip chaperones and some of the students’ family members, will be immersed in the sights, sounds and tastes of the gorgeous country that is Italy.
The group will be exposed to many of the major attractions that the country has to offer over the course of the trip. Following the introductory arrival in Rome, the group will tour Northern Italy for the first three days of the trip, all while staying in the picturesque Montecatini Terme. The first stops are the city of Pisa, which is known worldwide for its famous bell tower, and the city of Pescia.
The group will then tour the city of Sienna, which is famous for its delicious cuisine, gorgeous art and museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio, a horse race that the city holds twice a year. This portion of the trip concludes with a visit to the Sienna Cathedral (Duomo), which is one of the great examples of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture.
The next half of the trip begins as the group transitions from Montecatini Terme to Florence, where the group will receive an informative guided tour. This will include the visiting of many famous aspects of the city, including the Piazza Del Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, and Accademia, where the statue of Michaleangelo’s David is located. In addition, everyone will have ample time for individual sightseeing and shopping.
The group will then check in to Rome, where the last three nights of the trip will be spent. This will be followed by a guided walking tour of Ancient Rome, where the group will see the Capitoline Hill, the Citadel of ancient Rome, the Tarpeian Rock, the Roman Forum, and of course, the world famous Colosseum.
Finally, to finish off the already fascinating and elegant trip, the group will tour the Roman Castel area and the Museums of the Vatican. The group will be able to see the majestic and Renaissance landmarks of the Vatican, including the Sistine Chapel, with its breathtaking frescoes by Michaelangelo, and the Raphael Rooms, which established Raphael’s reputation in Rome.
Following one more night’s stay in Rome, the group will travel to the nearby airport and embark on the plane ride home to America, with countless stories to share from the incredible experience.
Not only will the group be visiting all of these fantastic places in Italy, but both the band and the color guard will be performing multiple times in the country as well. The marching band will be the first ensemble to perform, and will perform in a parade through the city of Lucca. In addition, they will perform with the local parade and flag group called “Gruppo Stroico Sbandieratori”, which will be followed by a performance by the Council Rock South Winter Guard. The concert band will perform as well, and will perform a concert in the state of the arts Citta del Teatro in Cascina. Arguably the most exciting performance though, is the performance by the marching band following the General Papal Audience at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City. These performances will serve to musically enhance the group’s experience as they travel throughout Italy.
As expected, any travel to a foreign country is particularly expensive. With a $3545 cost for students, a $3635-4085 cost for parents and siblings and a $10,000 cost for the entire organization, the students have been determined since the fall of 2015 to raise sufficient funds for the trip. They have accomplished this through various fundraisers and events, such as a carwash, a flea market, a mattress sale, and the annual Council Rock South-hosted winter guard competition “Spin Out at the Rock”. The profits from all of these events combined will be able to provide sufficient funds for the trip to run smoothly.
With the financial situation almost entirely secured and all of the information distributed, the Council Rock South marching band and color guard are in their final preparatory phases for the highly anticipated trip. Both the band and the color guard have been diligently working since November of 2015 in practices and rehearsals to perfect their material for their overseas performances.
Fortunately, all of their hard work and determination will soon be rewarded, as the Council Rock High School South band and color guard will be greeted with an unforgettable and cultured experience in the beautiful country that is Italy.
¡Arrivederci!