Oxon Hill High School Band Tunes Up Before Heading To Beijing for Olympic Performance
By Cassie M. Chew
At the final rehearsal before the annual spring concert the attire of this well-dressed group of student musicians revealed the importance of the occasion. The girls clad in long black skirts. The boys in black slacks. And everyone in crisp white shirts and gold vests all wore their game faces as they practiced their notes in the school's large music room.
That night they would perform before dozens of parents, teachers and fellow students. Four weeks from now they will perform before millions.
Next month, the Oxon Hill High School Marching Clippers Band, armed with their glittering clarinets, saxophones and trumpets, will be taking a long road trip to Beijing, China to perform during several concerts that mark the start of the 2008 summer Olympic games.
Members of the Oxon Hill High School Marching Clippers Band practice before playing at the annual spring concert.
Photo: Cassie M. Chew
About 55 students are set to go, said Walter A. Harley, band director for the Clippers. Among the young performers are freshman and French horn player Sharese Gaskins, Joel Uyenco, an eleventh grader who plays the flute, and Anthony Daniel, a junior who plays both the French horn and the trumpet.
The total cost of the trip is $265,000. So far Harley has raised enough money to bring the price down to about $3,820 for each student. Harley wants to bring the cost of the trip down even more.
“We are trying to get support from our community,” he said, as he put on his cufflinks before that final rehearsal.
Last winter, the band applied for their passports and visas. Now they are trying to raise enough funds to finalize air travel and hotel accommodations.
The students will play six concerts including performances at The Great Wall of China and the The Forbidden City.
Anthony Myers, who has been playing the trumpet since the fourth grade, displays a big smile when asked how he is anticipating the trip.
“I won’t feel too excited until I step on the plane,” he said.
For more information on the Oxon Hill High School Marching Clippers Band point your Web browser to www.pgcps.org/~oxonhill/music.htm .
|
