The White Plains High School Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra classes recently took their annual weekend trip. In years past, the ensembles have visited Boston, D.C. and Philadelphia, but this year they traveled to the great state of Maine.
The first stop on the trip was on Friday at the University of Southern Maine, where the band and orchestra got a brief campus tour followed by clinics with the school’s band director, Dr. William Kinne, and the orchestra director, Dr. Robert Lehmann. The students had an amazing opportunity to have their playing heard by music teachers at the college level and received invaluable feedback for their upcoming concerts.
The group’s final stop of the day was a pizza dinner at Spare Time Portland along with time to play games in the arcade and rounds of laser tag in the arena. Then, they checked into the hotel where they would stay for the weekend and prepared for another full day of activities.
Saturday morning, the group set off for Acadia National Park to spend some time in the great outdoors on a pleasant hike along the coast. The students split into smaller groups based on how far they wanted to walk. Each group got to see wonderful views of everything Maine has to offer, including sand beaches, Thunder Hole and an otter.
Next, they took a short drive to the Maine town of Bar Harbor where they got time to visit the shops on Main Street. The students returned to the bus with items such as hoodies, shirts, pins, boba tea and ice cream.
That evening, the band and orchestra students got a tour of New England Music Camp, followed by square dancing (seeing so many music students and teachers dancing is truly a remarkable sight) and songs and s’mores around the campfire before returning to the hotel.
On the last morning of the trip, the musicians put on their finest clothes, checked out of the hotel and rode to the Portland Museum of Art, where they took a guided tour of the museum’s various exhibits and artworks. Then, they went to see the Portland Symphony Orchestra perform Bach’s “Mass in B minor.” It was truly enlightening to see a professional orchestra perform such an awe-inspiring piece of music.
Lastly, the band and orchestra hit the road again for the final journey back to White Plains. They arrived back at WPHS that night and unloaded their instruments and luggage to return home and get a good night’s sleep before coming back to school the next day.
Overall, the trip was a wonderful adventure for all the students, teachers and chaperones involved. The White Plains Tigers got to hone their musical abilities in clinics and by watching professional musicians, as well as have a great time on the Maine coast with their friends. In short, the expedition was a rousing success. The students have made life-long memories and are eagerly awaiting next year’s trip.
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Students after lunch at a rest stop on the way to Maine.
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Students taking a tour at the University of Southern Maine.
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Band students at a clinic at the University of Southern Maine.
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Orchestra students at a clinic at the University of Southern Maine.
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Students outside the book store at Unversity of Southern Maine.
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Students on the quad at the University of Southern Maine.
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Students outside the book store at the University of Southern Maine.
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The beach at Acadia National Park.
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Students on a ledge by the sea at Acadia National Park.
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A group of students on a rock at Acadia National Park.
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Students on a ledge at Acadia National Park.
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Students on the quad at the University of Southern Maine.
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Students by the ocean at Acadia National Park.
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A student sitting on a rock by the sea at Acadia National Park.
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Students walking down the road at Acadia National Park.
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Scenery at Acadia National Park.
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Scenery at Acadia National Park.
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Students on the beach at Acadia National Park.
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Students on rocks in Acadia National Park.
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Students on rocks at Acadia National Park.
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Students on tour at the University of Southern Maine.
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Students playing with a ball at Spare Time Portland.
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Two students at Spare Time Portland arcade.
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The beach at Acadia National Park.
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Students hiking at Acadia National Park.
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Rocky coast at Acadia National Park.
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Scenery at Acadia National Park.
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Scenery at Acadia National Park.
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Scenery at Acadia National Park.
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Scenery at Acadia National Park.
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The beach at Acadia National Park.
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Students hiking at Acadia National Park.
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Students hiking at Acadia National Park.
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Plants on the rocks at Acadia National Park.
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Rocks on the beach at Acadia National Park.
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An otter on the rocks at Acadia National Park.
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A student standing on the rocks in Acadia National Park.
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The coast at Acadia National Park.
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Students hiking in Acadia National Park.
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Scenery at Acadia National Park.
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The beach at Acadia National Park.
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Thunder Hole at Acadia National Park.
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Students at Acadia National Park.
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Lobster flavored ice cream in Bar Harbor.
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Students on a tour of New England Music Camp.
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Students roasting marshmallows over a campfire at New England Music Camp.
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Students singing around the campfire at New England Music Camp.
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Students and teachers dancing at New England Music Camp.
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Students and teachers dancing at New England Music Camp.
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Students and teachers dancing at New England Music Camp.
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Students square dancing at New England Music Camp.
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Students square dancing at New England Music Camp.
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Students square dancing at New England Music Camp.
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A group of students demonstrating steps of square dancing at New England Music Camp.
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Students square dancing at New England Music Camp.
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A group of students standing by the lake at New England Music Camp at sunset.
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Students on the field at New England Music Camp.
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Students square dancing at New England Music Camp.
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Sun through the trees at New England Music Camp.
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Students playing with a beach ball at New England Music Camp.
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Mr. May eating a lobster dinner at New England Music Camp
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Dr. Tonissen holding up a plate of lobster at New England Music Camp.
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Students and teachers sat down for dinner at New England Music Camp.
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Students being served lobster at New England Music Camp.
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Students at the amphitheater on a tour of New England Music Camp.
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Sunset at New England Music Camp.
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Campfire songs at New England Music Camp.
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Cabins at New England Music Camp.
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Students on tour at New England Music Camp.
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Ripples in the lake at New England Music Camp.
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Students admiring works at the Portland Museum of Art.
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Students admiring works at the Portland Museum of Art.
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A pier at a park near the Portland Museum of Art.
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Water in the park near the Portland Museum of Art.
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Water in the park near the Portland Museum of art.
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Students on the swings at the park near the Portland Museum of Art.
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Students in balcony seats at Portland Symphony Orchestra.
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Students gathered near stage at Portland Symphony Orchestra.
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The stage and audience at the Portland Symphony Orchestra.
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Audience at the Portland Symphony Orchestra.
