Charles City School music goes to New York

By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Schools’ music department is taking a trip to New York next week during spring break.

“It is a trip to expose students to cultural experiences that they might not have in Charles City or in Iowa for that matter,” said Charles City High School Choir Director Derek Sturtevant.

The trip is part of an every-other-year excursion that the Charles City High School music program takes part in. The performing arts trips alternate between Chicago and New York.

The students will get to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, see a Broadway show, Rockefeller Center, St. Partick’s Cathedral, Times Square, 9/11 Memorial Visitors Center and the Statue of Liberty among other culturally important spots.

“It brings to life (the idea) that once you finish high school there are art opportunities,” Sturtevant said. “Not just in our area, but in other areas out in the country and the world.”

Derek LaBarge and Mackenzie Wilson, both 17, say they are excited about the trip.

LaBarge is in choir and band, having made All-State twice for his trumpet playing, and Wilson is in the choir. Both have been involved in the performing arts since they were in elementary school.

“I’m looking forward to a lot of the sightseeing,” LaBarge said. “Also we’re going to see ‘Wicked’ on Broadway and that’s like my favorite musical.”

Wilson went to New York during a previous summer, before she knew where the school trip was going.

“I’m excited to see different things that I didn’t have the chance to see,” Wilson said. “We’re taking a lot of tours that I didn’t get the chance to see last time.”

The travelers aren’t just going to see “Wicked,” they’re also going to watch “Stomp,” a combination of percussion, movement and comedy using trash cans, brooms and other objects instead of drums.

“Being in the moment is an experience you can’t feel until you’re actually in the moment,” Wilson said. “It’s not something you can just watch — you have to be there to feel it.”

Seeing live performances on the caliber of Broadway is important for performing art students, to give them an example of peak performance, Wilson said.

“Being able to see it performed at such a high level is amazing,” Wilson said.

LaBarge and Wilson said they are looking forward to their visit to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty because of the history and meaning of those places.

Both LaBarge and Wilson are seniors.

“I think it’ll be one last hurrah for all of the music departments to get together and do something, and it’ll probably be amazing especially for the seniors,” Wilson said.