If you noticed your classes emptier than usual recently, it probably is because the school Marching Band has been on a trip to China. This trip, which lasted 10 days, served to represent America in a student cultural exchange.
This school’s and Clarksburg’s marching bands departed from Dulles International Airport on Tuesday, Oct. 7, to China, where they stayed until Oct. 17. The travelling party, which consisted of students, staff, and parent volunteers, visited two cities during their trip, Beijing and Shenzhen.
This trip was an important milestone, as this trip to China was the first-ever international trip by the marching band. Though the accomplished band has gone around the country for competitions, they have never left the country. “We’ve done regional travel for competitions and have traveled to Florida to perform at Universal Studios and Disney World, but nothing of this magnitude. It was a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” marching band director Dr. Susan Eckerle said.
Planning a trip of this magnitude was no easy task. The idea for the trip originated from a partnership between MCPS and Joy Education International, which invited Wootton and Clarksburg’s marching bands to visit China. “From there, it was a very intense five months of planning, coordinating travel logistics, shipping equipment, obtaining passports and visas, rehearsing, and cross-school communication. It honestly took a village of administrators, parents, and students,” Dr. Eckerle said.
In addition, MCPS worked closely with both the American and Chinese governments to pull this off. Since a trip of this size naturally poses safety risks, MCPS ensured proper permissions, documentation, and safety protocols with both governments and the host schools in China. “Every traveler’s passport and visa had to be verified by both governments, and all activities were pre-approved to align with both countries’ education and student-safety standards,” Dr. Eckerle said.
As for the trip itself, organizers made sure that students were not performing the whole time, and got time for sightseeing. Built into the schedule was time at the Beijing zoo, markets and temples and the Great Wall of China. “My favorite part of the trip was going down Qianmen street in Beijing. It was a street full of vendors. I felt really immersed in the culture there. I think mostly because it felt so authentic, seeing so many people, tourists and locals alike, it felt very vibrant,” senior Charlie Kringle said.
Not only did students perform at local schools, as part of their trip to the Great Wall of China, the band got an opportunity to perform at the historic location. Students said they loved this once-in-a-lifetime experience, with it being one of the highlights of the trip. “My favorite part was getting to see the Great Wall and perform on it,” senior Xavier Marcus said.
Students made lifelong memories and connections with Chinese kids, and said they will never forget this experience. “The trip exceeded every expectation I had. I knew it would be a great musical and cultural experience, but what surprised me the most was how much the students grew as people. They were ambassadors, representing not only Wootton and Montgomery County Public Schools but also the best of American youth. The kindness, curiosity, and mutual respect between our students and the Chinese students created genuine connections that went far beyond any performance,” Dr. Eckerle said.
