This December, band members will make McNeil history by performing in the New Orleans Sugar Bowl for the first time.
“New Orleans is one of my favorite cities,” Assistant Band Director Jason Dimiceli said. “This will be the third time we have taken the band there.”
The band was invited to perform during halftime of the Sugar Bowl game with 2,000 other students from around the country.
“It is an exciting opportunity for the students to play at such a high profile venue,” Dimiceli said. “It will be a blast to perform in the Superdome.”
Though most students are looking forward to the trip, others have mixed feelings.
“I heard this year’s trip will be more educational than recreational, ” junior Wesley Kevin Lam said. “But I am excited.”
Band members will spend three extra days in New Orleans for recreation, such as exploring the French Quarter.
“I’m excited for the trip,” freshman Rebecca Chen said. “I can’t wait to spend time with my friends and try Cajun food.”
Though the trip sounds fun to them, some students decided not to go because of the $900 cost. The fact that the trip is scheduled during Winter break also caused conflict with some of the students’ ability to go.
“Every year on Christmas break, I take a trip to the East Coast to see my family, so I won’t be in town,” junior Will Maynard said. “Also, money is tight, and with things like college, DCI camps, and buying a car just around the corner, paying around $1,000 for a band trip isn’t on my radar.”
Many students have never been to New Orleans and are excited about traveling to a new place to perform.
“I’m most excited for playing at the Sugar Bowl with the band and also being in New Orleans with some of my best friends on New Years Eve,” senior Courtney Castille said. “From what I’ve heard about the culture and the environment, it’s going to be a really good time.”
