By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The secondary schools’ music students are looking to go on an East Coast tour this spring.
Lynnfield Public Schools’ K-12 Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator Harry Wagg, who is also Lynnfield High’s band director, gave an overview of the two proposed music trips during a recent School Committee meeting. He said high school music students would like to visit Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. while Lynnfield Middle School’s Pioneer Singers want to go to New York City.
Wagg said the LHS trip to Philadelphia and Washington is scheduled for Friday, April 5 through Monday, April 8.
“One of the things that LHS Choral Director Doug Hodgkins and I are pretty set on is offering a trip each year that alternates between a flight trip that might be a little bit more expensive and a trip that we can access by bus that is less of a financial burden on families,” said Wagg. “We went to Nashville last year, which is a pretty big trip. This one is a little bit closer to home.”
Wagg said the LHS trip will tentatively cost each student $1,100, which he said will depend on the number of students going. He anticipates 40 students will be attending the high school trip.
“The performances that we tentatively have lined up for the trip are at the Franklin Institute, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial,” said Wagg. “The last time we did the Lincoln Memorial performance pretty special.”
Wagg also said high school students will be visiting the National Constitution Center, the World War II Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
“We will be seeing the Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery,” said Wagg.
Hodgkins said a late addition to the tentative high school trip itinerary includes students performing at the World War II Memorial.
“That would be great,” said Hodgkins. “The last time we went to Washington was really fun.”
Wagg also said high school students will be watching a performance of “Little Shop of Horrors” at Ford Theater, which is where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
“Students will be learning about the building’s history,” said Wagg.
Hodgkins said he had never visited the Ford Theater until going on an LHS music trip to Washington.
“It was really eye-opening to see Lincoln’s box all draped off,” said Hodgkins. “It brought a whole bunch of history to life.”
Hodgkins also said LHS music students will be going on a Spirit of Washington boat cruise.
“Students will be able to meet kids from other schools in different parts of the country,” said Hodgkins.
Wagg said the LHS trip to Philadelphia and Washington does not conflict with any standardized tests that will be administered.
The LMS Pioneer Singers are looking to on a trip to New York City from Saturday, May 18 through Monday, May 20.
Wagg said the Pioneer Singers will be performing at the Intrepid Museum and at St. Malachy’s Roman Catholic Church, which is often referred to as “The Actors’ Chapel.”
“The Pioneer Singers will also be going on a tour of Radio City Music Hall,” said Wagg. “They will be going to a Broadway show that will be depend on which tickets are available.”
LMS Music Director Stephen Bloom anticipates 20 students will be attending the New York trip, which currently has a tentative price tag of $1,014. He recalled that a mother of two children who grew up in town first visited The Big Apple as a member of the Pioneer Singers.
“I was talking with her, and she said her first trip to New York City was with the Pioneer Singers,” said Bloom. “It just opened up her world and got her outside of the box.”
Wagg said students will be taking motor coach buses to all three cities.
“One of the great things about taking buses for these trips is the bus picks us up in Lynnfield and we are basically on the bus the entire time,” said Wagg. “Airports give me more and more white hairs every time we take a flight trip.”
Wagg said the hotels students will be staying at will be providing nighttime security.
“There will be chaperones and nurses available at all times,” said Wagg.
Wagg noted that the families whose children will be attending the trips will be paying the festival company directly.
“It gives families more options,” said Wagg.
Wagg said the music trips are “very important” for both students and the secondary schools’ music programs.
“They provide students the opportunity to showcase their musical talents to communities outside of Lynnfield,” said Wagg. “The trips encourage growth, confidence and skill development through public performances. The trips also provide cultural enrichment by allowing students to see new places and experience new things.”
Wagg also said the music trips give students the opportunity to collaborate and “build a sense of camaraderie with each other.”
Bloom noted that the Pioneer Singers are celebrating its 25th anniversary with a concert on Saturday, Nov. 4, beginning a 1 p.m. at the LMS auditorium.
In response to a question from School Committee member Jamie Hayman, Wagg said the trip’s chaperones will be parents and guardians.
Wagg asked the School Committee for permission to begin collecting deposits.
“Some of these need deposits pretty quick in order for us to hold tickets for shows that far out in advance,” said Wagg.
School Committee Chair Rich Sjoberg said the three educators can begin collecting deposits.
The School Committee will be voting on the two trips on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
