A little bit of sunshine and some amazing performances, as some Norwin singers traveled to D.C. From Wednesday, March 26 to Saturday, March 29, the Norwin High School Bel Canto and Orchestra made their way to Washington D.C. to sing and play their hearts out.

“Mr. S[Szymanski] and I Came up with this idea this time last year when we were on a show choir bus,” said Mrs. Bridget Faulk. “So we had seven hours on a bus together and then just got talking and wanted to do this with Bel Canto and Orchestra because they don’t get the recognition that they need. You know, I wanted you guys to get out and get singing!”

Working up to the trip, excitement was brewing as the effort the classes had put in months and months prior was finally going to be put on display in a way that it had not been before. However, all hard work deserves a little bit of play. The students traveled by bus and some of their destinations included “Sheer Madness” at The Kennedy Center and the Washington Zoo, where they had the ability to experience once-in-a-lifetime enjoyment. Yes, there were pandas. They were given the opportunity to explore by themselves on occasion, learning new things around every corner, and enjoying themselves in a multitude of ways.

Singing in the sunshine—on their second day in D.C. the students had the opportunity to perform at The Jefferson Memorial.

“You know, for me, I think a core memory would be that performance at the Jefferson,” said Faulk. “I hope that the students that performed that day understood how special that was.”

With the view of cherry blossoms and admiration for the music, a large crowd gathered around and listened in as the young artists sang and serenaded each and every person.

The repertoire included: “Bring Me Little Water Sylvie” by Leady Belly, “Over the Rainbow” by Yip Harburg, “The Road Home” by Stephen Paulus, and “Rain Rain” by Daniel Brinsmead, sung by Bel Canto.

The Orchestra performed: “Morning Prayer” from “Album for the Young” by Dmitri Shostakovich, arranged by Robert D. McCashin, Navy Hymn by John B Dykes, arr. by Jack Bullock, a My Fair Lady Medley by Fredrick Loewe, and “American Heartland,” arranged by Larry Moore. Combined they performed “Lake Isle of Innisfree” written by Willam Yeats and composed by Dick Farrelly, ending the set of music.

“The most memorable part of the trip was being able to perform in front of the Jefferson Memorial for all those people,” said Samantha Morgan, a student in the Orchestra.

Later that day, they embarked on a journey through Ford Theater where they could learn more about the death and assassination of President Abraham Lincoln as well as visit the gift shop, a fan favorite among the bunch. The learning didn’t stop there! Then, they were off to view the beautiful memorials including Vietnam, WWII, and more. On a self-guided tour through the different attractions, they stopped to take photos and admire the wonderful statues and murals. Lost in the doors. Another night’s sleep and more performing were on the way. It may seem like an odd gig but The Mansion on O’Street was an exhilarating opportunity for the kids to show their talent in a unique venue. The students could also take a tour of the mansion, which houses a series of secret doors, a popular attraction for anyone looking to lose themselves for a while. Rooms like secret wine cellars and even Chucky’s bedroom hid behind the doors.

With the trip coming to an end, one more stop was made to Arlington Cemetery, where students were able to see historical figures’ tombstones. Figures such as John F. Kennedy and his family members’ graves lay at the cemetery, filled with more of the same cherry blossoms. Afterward, the group had a safe trip home back to Norwin High School where they said their final goodbyes.

Thanks to teachers Mrs. Bridget Faulk (Bel Canto) and Mr. Michael Szymanski (orchestra), a trip successfully concluded. Soon enough they will be off again and you can join too! If you like to sing or are looking to play an instrument then one of these pristine groups might just be the place for you, simply an audition away.

“This trip helped me to reconnect with people who I may have drifted from or maybe people who I never had the opportunity of talking to,’ said Maura Henaghan, ‘But being able to connect with all these people made the experience so worth it. As a senior, I am constantly reflecting on how I will never see so many of these people again, so it was nice to go on one last trip with everyone.”