Athens High School band program shines in San Diego

TROY — Around 90 members of the Athens High School band program had the opportunity to travel to San Diego for a variety of musical and educational experiences recently.

During the trip, students attended musical clinics at the University of San Diego, saw the San Diego Symphony, and spent the day at SeaWorld, among other activities.

“My favorite part of the trip was visiting Sea World,” junior and flutist Pierce Morse said.

The band had the opportunity to perform on the flight deck of the USS Midway aircraft carrier. They played different examples of patriotic music that celebrated the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, including “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America”; a medley from the “Top Gun” soundtrack, including “Danger Zone,” by Kenny Loggins; and pop hits like Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.”

“The students worked hard leading up to the performance, learning all new patriotic and flight-themed music,” band director Adam Cable said in an email. “Many veterans came up to the students to talk about how great they sounded and how special it was for them to hear kids playing patriotic music for this special event. Throughout the duration of the trip, I loved hearing how excited the kids were to perform on the aircraft carrier, and it certainly lived up to their expectations.”

The Athens High School band was able to perform for hundreds of spectators during the event.

“This was a really exciting trip, and it was cool to play ‘Top Gun’ music on the deck of the USS Midway for the 600 veterans and their families,” junior and clarinetist Gracie Nowakowski said in an email.

Many of the kids on the trip were thrilled to have a chance to play for veterans.

“Playing on an aircraft carrier was a once-in-a-lifetime experience;  getting to interact with the veterans in attendance was inspiring,” junior and trumpet player David Graunstadt said in an email.

Cable and his students were happy to have had the performance opportunity, and they were happy to see the West Coast.

“From touching the Pacific Ocean for the first time to seeing the sea lions in action at La Jolla beach and an incredible dinner cruise on the San Diego harbor, our kids left with memories to last a lifetime,” Cable said in an email.

For more information, visit athens.troy.k12.mi.us.