A Band Trip To New York City

k City is a desirable student travel destination withhigh school band (or other type of performance
many educational and recreational opportunities togroup) at the United Nations or Lincoln Center.
offer. It is also a great city for student groups whoStudent performance groups may also select the
would like to perform in highly visible venues. WhileStatue of Liberty (Liberty Island) as a venue. Choirs
planning band trips to New York City, keep in mindmay perform at the Cathedral of Saint John the
there are some excellent choices for studentsDivine. These well-known venues are a great chance
performance groups. The itineraries I offer studentfor the high school band to reach out to a new and
groups who want to travel to New York City anddifferent type of audience than the one available to
perform there include a performance date as well asthem in their own hometown. Scheduling this type of
visits to the same highlights and attractions in the cityperformance takes six months to one year advanced
any student group would find of interest.planning, so educators planning a trip like this need to
I am the owner of an educational travel companykeep this in mind. After the high school band
that specializes in performance trips to New Yorkperforms, the group is taken shopping along 5th
City, Washington D.C., Orlando, and other U.S.Avenue, on an NBC Studios Tour, and visits the
destinations. I have spent over 25 years creatingMetropolitan Museum of Art. The student travel
exciting visits to these destinations crafted specificallygroup then eats dinner at a restaurant, and takes in a
for performance groups. My company specializes inBroadway Musical that evening.
high school band trips, orchestra trips, choirDay 3
performances, ensembles and more.After breakfast the high school band or performance
In this article I will outline a sample itinerary for agroup checks out of the hotel, and takes a Boat
band trip to New York City. This sample itinerary willTour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. When
give trip planners, students, teachers, and parents athis is complete the group explores the South Street
clear picture of the type of performance trip a groupSeaport and Greenwich Village. Afterward, they
may take to the Big Apple.travel to Ground Zero and Chinatown. The last stop
High School Band Trip Itineraryon the student tour is a shopping trip to
Day 1Macy’s Department Store. After the shopping
A high school band trip to New York City begins withspree, the student group departs for home.
a guided tour of the city with a professional andThe sample itinerary outlined in this article does not
certified tour escort. The sites visited include Trinityrepresent the only performance trip available to New
Church, South Street Seaport, Madison SquareYork City. I have worked carefully to put together
Garden, Rockefeller Center, Broadway, Chinatown,an effective student performance trip to New York
Central Park and other points of interest. After thisCity that covers a three-day period. If additional
tour of NYC is complete the group will visit thedestinations are requested within the New York City
American Museum of Natural History, have dinner atarea, the student group may decide to travel for
a restaurant, and journey up to the observation deckfour days, instead of three. Whatever the
of the Empire State Building. Educational travel groupsrequirements for the high school band or
may elect to take in a Yankees or Mets Baseballperformance group, my professional staff remains
game as well.adaptable to the specific needs of the group in the
Day 2planning phases. Email for more information on
The highlight of day two is the performance by thescheduling a band trip to New York City.