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After six days on the road, the Luverne High School marching band returned home full of stories, experiences, and for director Richard Owen the one and only copy of the group’s studio performance.
“I signed a whole lot of paperwork stating I can’t make a copy,” Owen said. “I have the one-and-only copy on a flash drive.”
During the group’s six-day trip, two days were spent at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, where they marched down Main Street U.S.A. and later recorded four Disney songs in a sound studio. A clinician directed the pieces, which were selected for the group when they arrived.
The group played songs from the movies of “The Emperor’s New Grove,” “Tangled,” “Frozen” and Disney’s theme song, “When You Wish Upon a Star.”
The two chartered buses with 63 students and nine chaperones left Luverne at midnight June 7 and returned June 13.
Along the 60-hour round trip, the group visited sites such as Kings Canyon National Park, Huntington Beach, Glenwood Springs, Sequoia National Park, Los Angeles farmers markets and the California Space Museum, home of the space shuttle Endeavor.
“It’s just cool that it’s been to space,” said 15-year-old mellophone player Oscar Holmberg.
Director Owen said each student had a different favorite trip experience, from picking oranges, to watching fireworks at Disneyland to swimming at the beach.
For Holmberg and his family, the band trip took on an extra meaning when his dad and his sister surprised him by being at the parade route at Disneyland.
Chris Holmberg and 11-year-old Sophie drove to Disneyland, arranging to arrive there for the band’s two-day stay.
“We wanted to keep our visit secret,” Chris said. “But by 9 a.m. (the first day), we already saw Oscar.”
They were successful in keeping their visit secret, taking Oscar by surprise “for a split second” while he marched. Oscar said his family talked about making the trip to watch the band. His mother, Diane, stayed home for the last-minute trip.
Chris’ favorite memory is of Oscar and the Luverne band marching down Main Street U.S.A.
“We are such a Disneyland and Disneyworld kind of family,” he said. “We love traveling there. It’s so fun to go.”
The Luverne High School marching band organizes a large trip every four years, Owen said.