[Dhsbb-jazz] San Diego summary

[DHS Band Boosters - Jazz Band]

Thank you so much Esther for a wonderful report and thanks to you and all of the volunteers for all of your hard work!  It was a wonderful trip!

Morgan, Ronna & Morgan
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From: DHS Band Boosters - Jazz Band <dhsbb-jazz at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us> 

> 
> A Band Trip Follow-up Message 
> Hello Band Parents. Welcome back after a relaxing holiday. We are 
> into the home stretch with final concerts and graduation. There 
> won't be a June newsletter or meeting other than the planning session 
> at Doreen Conte's home on June 12. My parting gift to you all is a 
> lengthy account of our wonderful experience in San Diego. But first 
> business is about photos that can be purchased from the Forum Musical 
> Festival for the Davis High Concert and Symphonic Bands. They are 
> posted at www.jolesch.com. Enter location as San Diego. Click on 
> Forum Music Festival and the dropdown has the Concert and Symphonic 
> bands with several shots (serious vs goofy) to choose from. 
> 
> If you have some time now, read on to hear about the trip. If not, 
> save it for later. And if you really have time, click onto 
> www.dhsbandboosters.org to see the corresponding photo show, 
> including Festival shots, compliments of John Chuck and Fred Conte. 
> Thank you gentlemen. A high-speed connection is recommended. 
> 
> 
> San Diego Band Trip synopsis 
> 
> Did your student go on the band trip and tell you absolutely nothing 
> about it upon his/her return? That has been the story for my boys 
> all through school so I try to attend as many of these events as 
> possible. I can’t tell you every detail of your child’s experience 
> but you may enjoy hearing about some of the more delightful moments 
> as a window into a most magical 4 days. 
> 
> Thursday, May 18 
> Buses departed around 12:30 pm with 119 rather excited students, 20 
> chaperones, lots of luggage, instruments, and band equipment on 
> board. Made some extra rest and water stops arriving at Embassy 
> Suites La Jolla well before midnight. Students traveled well, 
> studied some, the Sodoku was a killer, fairly quiet overall, and 
> seemed to get to sleep quickly. 
> 
> Friday, May 19 
> Many were up early for the 6 AM hot breakfast. All were ready on 
> time in their dress blacks for the festival at Point Loma Nazerene 
> University. What a primo location, overlooking the Pacific Ocean 
> with meticulously groomed grounds, so serene and beautiful. About 5 
> other high schools were participating and many attended our 
> performances. Symphonic Band went first with a fiery and dramatic 
> set that brought the audience to its feet. Our students thought only 
> Davis High students were watching but were pleased to hear how 
> strangers were cheering and raving about never having heard such 
> powerful music. Symphonic Band earned Gold at the Awards Ceremony 
> with Outstanding Musician Awards presented to Chris Weisker (our Oboe- 
> Man) and Michael Kim (flute and keyboard). Concert Band similarly 
> shined earning the Silver Award and Jazz Band had the house rocking 
> with Morgan Jones dancing on the piano, trumpets and trombones 
> swaying, and Benny Amon flying high on a drum solo. By then we had 
> some serious fans in the audience who wanted autographs. Gold Award 
> for Jazz Band with Morgan Jones earning the Oustanding Musician award. 
> 
> Then we were off to Sea World, land of penguins, dolphins, flamencos, 
> and of course Shamu the Killer Whale. With equal time for getting 
> wet on various roller coaster rides. The weather was mild and sunny, 
> the park uncrowded, fun and relaxing overall. We returned to the 
> hotel for pizza and dancing in the ballroom. Many students found 
> their way to the swimming pool where some intense water polo and 
> wrestling took place, 25 boys in the pool gives you an idea of the 
> energy level. Unfortunately that close contact led to an eye 
> accident propelling our trusty trip doctor, John Chuck, into action. 
> Coincidentally we had our very own eye specialist, Jeff Rabowsky, on 
> board and the student was patched up quickly. Dr. Chuck was not off 
> the hook yet. Our Trip Coordinator felt a bit faint in the glass 
> elevator and took to the ground where Dr. Chuck cajoled her into 
> fluid replacement and she was good as new. All this activity and 
> excitement, long days and sunshine, can have its consequences as we 
> all learned. 
> 
> They slept well that night. This student group is one of the finest 
> I have been privileged to accompany. They were prompt, organized, 
> respectful, and happy. You parents should be so proud. 
> 
> Saturday, May 21 
> In the morning we roamed around Seaport Village where it was sunnier, 
> again on the waterfront of the San Diego Harbor overlooking Coronado 
> Island and the great ships. The Combined Band performed in a busy 
> fountain intersection of the mall, a wonderful array of Americana 
> tunes, some historic, others nostalgic. For the Cole Porter medley, 
> Chris Weisker and Jenny Reuter courageously led the swing dancing 
> enticing their bold admirers to join in. Then Sterling Carlton blew 
> us away with a Benny Goodman medley where his clarinet may have 
> sounded better than Goodman himself. The show was hosted by the 
> antics of Doug Sprankling and Alex Hartnett who improvised 
> throughout, some very bad jokes, but lots of laughter all around. 
> The Jazz Band followed at the Gazebo venue with a lively and exciting 
> set that drew quite a crowd of onlookers. Those trombones who could 
> barely fit on the stage somehow managed to parade around during 
> Cruising for a Bluesin. 
> 
> Off to Old Town for a final Combined Band Performance. Same set but 
> this time Grace Pettygrove proved herself to be a swing dancer (led 
> by Chris Weisker) and all had a good time. Most of us enjoyed great 
> Mexican food, some brought home various gifts and trinkets, and the 
> evening ended with a huge Capture the Flag game in the State Park in 
> the dark. Back at the hotel more swimming (no injuries this time), 
> lots of talking with friends, riding the elevator, etc. Again they 
> looked so happy. 
> 
> I don’t know if every student had the best time ever but most of them 
> sure looked pleased. They will have fabulous memories of the trip. 
> It was truly golden. 
> 
> I want to especially thank the Trip Coordinator, Laurel Fagan, and 
> Committee Members Sue McKinney, Linda Parfitt, Sarah Davis, Dennis 
> Edgerly, Steve and Mary Kay Williams, Jill Theg (champion joke teller 
> of bus #1), and other chaperones Tamara Rees-Arredondo, Kathy Castona- 
> Hoover, Jerry Igelsrud, Fred Conte, Sally Springer, Jeff Rabowsky, 
> and John Chuck for working together to plan and execute such a 
> successful experience for the band students. Special recognition to 
> Fred Lange for the music selections which perfectly matched the 
> various venues, bringing out the best in our students and providing a 
> delightful experience for all audiences. That takes skill. That is 
> why HE is the Director. Thanks also to his lovely wife Pat who keeps 
> Fred going, even when the shuttle breaks down. What good sports. 
> 
> So What About those great T-shirts designed by Daniel Wu. And What a 
> Road Crew led by Kate Williams and including Anjan Purohit, Clifford 
> Hu, Jack Lescroat, Sabrina Simonton, Doug Sprankling, Brian Thompson, 
> Jack Brazil, Alex Hartnett, Andrew Barnhart, Robert Matlock, Mark 
> Fagan, Kristin Rumery, Ben Zeiger, with help from Aviel Haberman, 
> Kimberly Clark, Chris Weisker, Katie Fyhrie, Paul Conte, Jon Kelly, 
> and “RosenTheg” for the Langemobile. Maybe I left some out, so 
> sorry. These capable students managed to move and track numerous and 
> heavy pieces of equipment on and off the buses throughout the trip. 
> Kudos. 
> 
> Much goes on behind the scenes to make such an event happen. From 
> the beginning of the school year with Boosters organizing, with each 
> fundraising activity and musical performance, all the meetings and 
> phone calls, there are many decisions to make this go right. We are 
> grateful to have the talent and expertise among us to achieve such 
> quality. As my last band student is graduating, I am especially 
> appreciative of having had this as part of our high school 
> experience. I wish all of you the best and continued success for the 
> program. 
> 
> Esther Rose 
> DHS Band Boosters Vice President 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________ 
> Dhsbb-jazz mailing list 
> Dhsbb-jazz at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us 
> http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/dhsbb-jazz 
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