Over spring break 76 NDA band students traveled over a thousand miles to New Orleans, Louisiana. The students, along with Mr. William Hill, band teacher, and other chaperones, were in New Orleans from March 19th through the 24th and performed twice while in the city.
“It was amazing,” Elizabeth McGee, a senior NDA band member, said.
Many students noticed striking differences between the cities of Green Bay and New Orleans.
“New Orleans contained a variety of cultures,” McGee said. Jessica Gross, another senior band member, commented that along with “musicians at every corner” there were “break dancers dancing in the street.” Gross also found it interesting that people dressed like pirates and “it [was] socially acceptable.”
The band members stayed at the Wyndham Chateau Bourbon Hotel and visited many other historic places worth seeing in the New Orleans area such as the Audubon Insectarium and Aquarium of the Americas, the New Orleans Super Dome, the World War II Museum, Mardi Gras World, a Steamboat Natchez Dinner Jazz Cruise, a ghost tour and Preservation Hall. The students also attended Sunday Mass at the United States oldest Catholic cathedral still in continuous use, the Basilica of Saint Louis King of France.
The band students performed for four hours one night in Legends Park. The concert included Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Flute Trio, Trumpet Trio, Woodwind Ensemble, Trombone Quartet and Jazz Band.
Not everything about the trip was enjoyed by the students, such as “traveling on the bus, the trip was really long,” according to McGee, or the lack of sleep, according to Gross. Overall, however, every band member seemed to enjoy the trip.
Several of the highlights of the trip were “playing on Bourbon Street” and “IHOP every morning.” McGee’s favorite part of the trip was “bonding with other students.”
“I really liked walking the street and seeing all the different people playing the music they love,” Jacob McEwing said.