The Pascack Valley Band and Choir took a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana on April 4 through April 7 to learn and perform music. They were accompanied by Craig Yaremko and Meghan Magnus, PV’s Band and Choir directors respectively. The group performed numerous songs, learned from music professors, and explored the city.
“The trip was non-stop events,” Yaremko said. “…Everything really worked out great as far as our travels…I loved everything about it and being in New Orleans.”
The group performed at a nursing home, Oscar Dunn Park, and the University of New Orleans. At the University of New Orleans, they had the opportunity to sing with the Chamber Choir.
In addition to their performances, the group did tours, ate local food, and had non-music-related fun.
“The day that we got there…[the chaperones] let us go out to eat lunch,” PV senior and choir member Brianna Finch said. “We stumbled into this one spot that had this amazing food.”
Yaremko believes that the time spent in the French Quarter was one of the most interesting of the trip.
“I think our time in the French Quarter gave us the most time to feel the flavor, if you will, not just food, but the music,” Yaremko said. “We spent a couple [of] hours in the swamp on a gator tour. That was amazing.”
The group also went on a ghost tour.
”New Orleans is known as…the most haunted city in America,” Yaremko said.
The group then had the chance to learn about music at various workshops.
“The band had their workshop, and the choir had their workshop,” Finch said. “But we all listened to the professor at the University of New Orleans talk about jazz music and the New Orleans Street Beat…which was pretty cool.”
Overall, the trip was a success that made many lasting memories.
“It’s definitely an experience to go with that group of people because we’re all really close,” Finch said. “We spend a lot of time together already. So then to take that group and go somewhere and just get to have fun together, it’s like a truly amazing experience.”
The general feeling on the trip was one of happiness and positivity.
“What I remember is that…the mood and emotions of everybody on the trip were just so high and so positive the entire time. That’s what really sticks out to me,” Yaremko said. “New Orleans is just a place that oozes its thing. It’s just got such a different energy than New York City.”
Yaremko hopes that the band and choir can take more trips in the future.
“My goal is that [the band and choir] will go on a big trip once every four years and then maybe a smaller trip [on the other years],” Yaremko said. “…My intent would be to vary the destinations just to give students a variety.”
However, Yaremko notes that there is something special about New Orleans.
“I really…fell in love with the place and its connection to music and its spirit. The joyful attitude that [New Orleans] has and how it connects to music and the community, it’s something that I love to give students,” Yaremko said. “[A New Orleans trip] will definitely come back around in the future.”
