Brian Rowell Daily Press The Escanaba High School Marching Band gets in some last minute practice Wednesday before heading on a trip to New York City. The band will perform at Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Intrepid (Sea, Air & Space Museum) aircraft carrier and Monday at 2:30 p.m. at the Naumberg Band Shell in New York’s Central Park. The trip has been on hold since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ESCANABA — It was a long time coming, but the Escanaba High School Marching Band is finally headed the Big Apple. The band will be in New York from April 26 to May 2 and will be performing Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Intrepid (Sea, Air & Space Museum) aircraft carrier and Monday at 2:30 p.m. at the Naumberg Band Shell in New York’s Central Park.

The band left Escanaba by bus Wednesday afternoon.

Trip preparations have been in progress since the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. This 2023 trip is special because the 2020 NYC trip was canceled due to the COVID pandemic.

“We were shut down six weeks before the trip was to take place. It was heart-breaking for those students and directors. That would have been Bruce Cassell’s final trip as the Escanaba High School band director,” said Assistant Band Director Laura Robinson.

When classes resumed in fall of 2020, there was discussion with the new high school director, Robbie Miller, assistant director Laura Robinson, and the administration about traveling in 2023. Many steps were taken to communicate with families and students about travel due to COVID restrictions. The time period from fall 2020 to Fall 2022 was full of adjustments. After many meetings and consultations, it was decided to go forward with the 2023 NYC trip. Students have had the past 16 months to plan for the trip.

While in New York the students will tour Times Square, Grand Central Station, St.Patrick’s Cathedral, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock, Broadway classes lead by Broadway professionals in Choreography and Combat, Broadway show ALADDIN, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Battery Park, Wall Street, New York Stock Exchange, National 9/11 Memorial, St. Paul’s chapel, Chinatown, Little Italy, American Museum of Natural History, and Central Park

“Funding this endeavor has been the biggest factor,” Robinson said. “We want to be sure to identify these groups and organizations. This trip would not be possible without the generous donations from local sponsors Edward J. Sackerson Foundation, Community Foundation for Delta County, Rotary International, Donald & Audrey Anderson Foundation, Robert & Margaret Cowles Fund, Dave Nordin Instrumental Music Fund, In memory of Jan Gayan, EHS Colorguard Alumni, Spotlights Organization, Esky Band Boosters, and fund raising efforts with For the Love of Cupcakes, Frapp’s Meats, Sayklly’s Candy, Escanaba Gas & Steam Engine, Uncle Mike’s Bakery, and private donations from local caring individuals.”

Robinson said, If possible, videos, and photos will be shared with social media through the school’s facebook page as well as the Spotlights and Esky Band Boosters facebook pages.

This will be Robbie Miller’s first trip with the Escanaba High School Band to New York City. It will be Laura Robinson’s eighth trip to New York City with the band.