2024 marks the first time that the Homestead band has traveled during Spring break in five years. Though COVID-19 temporarily halted this tradition, it has made a comeback under the new director Charles O’Brien.
“Everybody was itching to travel. This happened throughout the summer, so that’s when I applied for the programs in Florida and when I started talking to the travel agency; it happened before I even got my keys.” O’Brien said.
Despite initial struggles to coordinate travel, the band embarked on a 24 hour bus trip to Florida on Sunday, March 24, and returned to Wisconsin on Saturday March 30. During that time, the group explored Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.
The band had the opportunity to march in the STARS Performance through Universal Studios on March 28. In addition, the bandparticipated in the Disney Imagination Campus program, which gave students the opportunity to sight-read music and record soundtracks for classic Disney films.
It’s clear that this was an exciting experience for students. “I liked the food and meeting new people that I didn’t know at the beginning of the year.” Jackie Bergey, freshman band member, said.
For freshmen and seniors alike, this was students’ first band trip.
Casey Thomas, senior, said, “I feel like as a culture we grew and we built bonds with other people, especially other instruments we don’t usually play with. We learned a lot about each other.”
“The students in middle school know that when they work their way up to high school, there are opportunities for them to travel to other places and to allow music to be the vehicle of travel,” O’Brien said. “With our current students, it’s about keeping them engaged and excited, knowing that there is a reward for what we do and that it’s worth it. The value is the music and it always will be, but when you incorporate music and travel, that’s the bonus.”
