OXFORD – Kate Stopper, the Oxford Academy High School band instructor, has announced that Virginia Beach, Va., has been chosen as this year’s exciting band trip destination. There will be a music festival at Busch Gardens which the band students will compete in for adjudication. Fund raising projects will be forthcoming for this trip which promises to be fun and educational, enriching the musical experiences of each child.
Every other school year, the Oxford Band Department takes a trip, and spring ‘09 is the next one. Many different trip options and itineraries were reviewed. The resulting destinations and dates selected were: Thursday, May 7 through Saturday, May 9. The students will arrive in Virginia Beach on Thursday; Friday they will perform for adjudication at Busch Gardens Williamsburg; have some free time at Virginia Beach followed by a dinner cruise. On Saturday will be an awards ceremony; free time at Busch Gardens; then the return trip to Oxford.
The Spirit of Norfolk dinner cruise rides on the Elizabeth River. Students will see the ships of the Atlantic fleet up-close at the Norfolk Naval Base. The formal dining begins with a candlelit buffet accompanied by dinner music. Later, live performers will entertain guests with Broadway quality singing and dancing. After that, the group will move to the outdoor patio deck to view the city before coming back down for dancing to hot DJ tune mixes.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg, the “World’s Most Popular Theme Park,” is an action-packed, European-themed park with old-world charm and 21st-century technology, boasting 100 acres of unparalleled fun and adventure. A high-tech theme park, Busch Gardens delights with dozens of thrilling rides, exciting attractions, staged shows and a variety of authentic foods (French, German, English and Italian) and shops. ( www.buschgardens.com ).
The Oxford Band Boosters, a group made up of band student’s parents, are an important leadership and support team. They have been significant in organizing many events and fundraising ventures, which will be very important for this VA trip. All parents of the Oxford High School band students are invited to get involved. Several fundraising ideas considered have been catalog sales, food sales, concerts and raffles.
The first fundraiser will begin Oct. 17. For three weeks, band students will be offering Little Caesar pizzas and other food items for sale, with delivery the week before Thanksgiving. Support from community members will be greatly appreciated. For more info contact Kate Stopper at 843-2025 Ext. 1309 or email- kstopper@oxac.org.