CRESTVIEW — Allison Luna says the Crestview High School band's spring break trip to Washington D.C. and New York made one of her dreams come true.
"The most memorable part of it for me was the warm-up before playing in Carnegie Hall," the percussionist said. "I'm a senior and it's always been a dream to even just go to Carnegie Hall since the sixth grade. I never expected I would get to perform there."
Last week, the Big Red Machine's Wind Ensemble performed works by Bryant, Wagner/Cailliet, Rimsky-Korsakov, Grainger, Boysen and Fillmore during the National Youth Concert at New York's famed Carnegie Hall.
Initially, it was a bit overwhelming, Allison said.
"We got on stage and we were hectic with getting everything set up right and Mr. (Jody) Dunn (band director) just said, 'Hold on, be still and look around at where you are at right now,'" she said. "And I looked up at how enormous and beautiful the auditorium was and I couldn't stop smiling.
"It took my breath away completely. The experience went by way too fast."
The band, pausing in the nation's capital for a couple of days during their trip, explored landmarks, worshiped at the National Cathedral, and contributed to a solemn ceremony.
On March 22, drum major Foster Lux and band member Chancer Teel laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.
Mayor David Cadle, who accompanied the band, joined Dunn and assistant director Charlie Andersen on the Carnegie Hall conductor's podium for some of the selections. Cadle directed the band for 29 years before retiring from teaching and running for office.
Crestview's musical ambassadors continued representing the city at performances around the country when the Crestview High chorus spent several days of singing and exploring in Nashville, Tenn., "Music City USA," last week.
Email News Bulletin Staff Arts and Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHS band trip combines performances and solemnity