The orchestra traveled to Chicago after receiving the invitation to perform at the Midwest Clinic, a large music conference held each year at McCormick Place. The trip lasted three days.
This trip allowed students to perform and explore music programs. They also participated in group activities across the city alongside musicians from other schools. Orchestra conductor Carolyn Herman, junior Izzy Magalona, junior Maria Mirza and freshman Miriam Akli were four of the people on this trip.
Students and teachers began the trip by boarding buses for a 12-hour ride before arriving in Chicago. After checking in, the group went to Pizano’s Pizza & Pasta for dinner and then returned to the hotel for the night. “The bus ride was long, but it gave us time to talk and prepare for the days ahead,” Magalona said.
The following morning, students ate breakfast provided by the hotel on the top floor before traveling to their rehearsal location to prepare for the performance. They reviewed their music together, practiced with Herman and left for the concert venue. “Rehearsing helped everyone stay focused before the concert,” Akli said.
Later, the orchestra performed its pieces at McCormick Place. The audience included music educators, students from Robert Frost Middle School and other musicians from different organizations. “The moment right after playing made me feel honored to be surrounded by talented people,”Akli said.
After the performance, the group explored the convention exhibits located throughout the center. The exhibit included displays from universities, music programs, instrument companies, and other educational institutions and booths offered activities and information for students. “Collecting free items and seeing the different music programs was one of the things I remember most from the convention center,” Magalona said.
Students also saw musicians and teachers from other schools across the country. Booths displayed instruments and tools while others showed music technology and educational materials. “There were many musicians from other schools and teachers walking through the exhibits,” Mirza said.
In the evening, the orchestra attended a musical of “The Phantom of the Opera” at the Cadillac Palace Theater. The play included dancers, opera singers, stage design, costumes and orchestral music performed live. “My favorite part of the trip was the ‘Phantom of the Opera’ show because the theater design and music were interesting to watch,” Mirza said.
Next, students returned to the hotel after the musical and gathered with friends to talk and relax. “Being in the hotel room with my friends and playing games or karaoke was also part of the experience I enjoyed,” Mirza said.
The following day, the group visited the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Students explored exhibits through the museum and checked out the galleries featuring displays. “The museum visit included a wide range of exhibits that students could walk through and interact with,” Herman said.
One exhibit that students visited was the Spider-Man; they explored the concepts connected to the character and the engineering ideas used in the comic and design. There were interactive displays and information explaining how the character’s abilities are developed. “The Spider-Man exhibit showed how science can be shown through characters; I also really enjoyed the graphics,” Magalona said.
Students then watched a movie inside the dome theater. The film showed animals living in the Arctic region and included scenes featuring seals, walruses and other wildlife. “The Arctic animals were cute, and the movie was vivid,” Akli said.
Later on, the group boarded a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan. Students from other schools attended the cruise, and food was served buffet-style. “The food on the cruise was very delicious, and the view outside was mesmerizing,” Magalona said.
During the cruise, music played while people gathered on the dance floor. They danced and sang along to songs. “My favorite part of the trip was the cruise with my friends because it felt like a party,” Magalona said.
Throughout the trip, students were provided snacks and drinks while traveling. Staff members and chaperones organized everything so that students could rest. “It was considerate for the staff to provide food and beverages so everyone could stay prepared and hydrated,” Magalona said.
Students later reflected on their performance and experiences during the trip. They focused on what they learned and gained, as well as how they did. “For our performance, I think we did well, and I felt I performed well,” Mirza said.
Others described how the trip exposed them to new environments and activities. “I learned to stay organized and also enjoyed trying things that I had not expected to find interesting,” Akli said.
The group returned home on the last day. Students packed their instruments and belongings before boarding the bus again.
