What would happen if you asked any music student who went to Chicago about the trip? 9 out of 10 people would probably respond with “THE MOST AMAZING TRIP EVER”, and they aren’t lying! From amazing musicals to stunning performances to great tours, the trip was everything that we imagined it would be.
Our dedicated music students arrived at school at 5:45am on Wednesday April 14th,2010. 10 hours later we arrived in Chicago ahead of schedule. After walking around the city for a while, we all took our seats at Andy’s Jazz Club to listen to an amazing jazz performance. We definitely started our trip with a bang (especially because of the loud drummer).
Day 2 began with a boat tour of the architectural wonders of the city of Chicago. An amazing overview of the skyline of Chicago was shown, including 4 of the 5 tallest buildings in all of America. After lunch at the Navy Pier, we took another tour of the city with our Italian tour guide Tony. After learning of all the gang wars and more history of the city, such as the Saint Valentine’s Day massacre, we enjoyed dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. Soon after we went to watch Billy Elliot the Musical, starring a young boy by the name of J.P. Vernes. It was definitely a highlight of the trip, filled with many hilarious moments.
On Day 3 our Jazz Band, Concert Band and Concert Choir received our first chance to perform with a performance at a senior centre. After rocking out the senior centre we received a tour of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio, with many architectural gems from 1909 that our still in place today. We also got a chance to visit the infamous Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), the tallest building in America and once tallest building in the world. That night we had the pleasure of witnessing the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, one of the top 5 orchestra’s in the world. Another amazing day filled with tons of great moments.
On our final day of activities, we began with a clinic at Northwestern University, one of the most prestigious music universities in North America. We then got a chance to view the Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium, exploring many different sea creatures. We ended the night and our trip by watching the play Ragtime, an inspiring show about early America when racism was still strongly used. This was definitely a great way to end our stay.
The 2010 music trip to Chicago was definitely a trip we will always remember. The trip had everything for everyone and will definitely give us memories that will last a lifetime.

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