{"id":1105,"date":"2017-01-01T18:33:50","date_gmt":"2017-01-01T18:33:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.musictravel.com\/blog\/?p=1105"},"modified":"2018-06-27T12:54:56","modified_gmt":"2018-06-27T12:54:56","slug":"new-york-city-choir-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musictravel.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/01\/new-york-city-choir-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"New York City Choir Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

The City that never sleeps! The Big Apple! It\u2019s like no other city in the world\u2014giant skyscrapers, world-famous attractions, fabulous museums, marvelous restaurants, exclusive shops, don’t miss performances at Lincoln Center, and spectacular Broadway shows! A renewed spirit of energy and vitality rings throughout America\u2019s largest city\u2014one of the world\u2019s greatest destinations! You just can’t go wrong with a New York City trip. Here\u2019s a look at the Big Apple, following in the footsteps of our friends from the Bismarck High School Choir\u00a0of Bismarck, North Dakota. As the title photo shows,\u00a0the trip’s highlight was\u00a0singing the National Anthem to kick-off\u00a0a\u00a0New York Mets vs. Milwaukee Brewers baseball game. You have to be at the top of your game when performing for New Yorkers, and the Bismarck students\u00a0knocked it out of the park on\u00a0their first-ever New York City Choir trip!<\/p>\n

Deciding what to\u00a0visit from all the choices New York offers is tough, but Bismarck stepped up to the challenge. First came the performances – Statue of Liberty, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Mets game – then the shows –\u00a0“Aladdin” and “Wicked” – next a music and dance workshop based on “Aladdin” –\u00a0and, of course, plenty of\u00a0sightseeing and shopping!<\/p>\n

Meeting their Music Travel Tour Director at school on Sunday evening, the group loaded its motor coach for the overnight ride to Minneapolis.\u00a0 Boarding an early morning non-stop flight to New York City, the group arrived in Manhattan just in time for lunch and\u00a0its first\u00a0chance to stare up at those tall, mid-town buildings.\u00a0 Then it was off to Chinatown and Little Italy, to sample two great neighborhoods, bustling with activity, color, delicious smells and a raucous cacophony of commerce and community.\u00a0After souvenir shopping on Mott, Bayard and Mulberry streets, the group went back uptown for dinner at the Hard Rock Caf\u00e9 on Times Square.\u00a0 Following a good dinner, the group checked in at the Embassy Suites Hotel in New Jersey, its comfortable home for the next five nights.\u00a0 A good night’s sleep never felt so good!<\/p>\n

Tuesday morning, the group had a quick breakfast at the hotel and loaded\u00a0its coach. It was time to capture the pace and feel the throb of the great city of New York.\u00a0 Personable local guides took Bismarck from Midtown to the Upper West Side, then to Harlem\u00a0and Central Park, where the choir treated the public to an impromptu\u00a0performance at Bethesda Terrace!\u00a0 Next, the guides continued\u00a0to the Upper East Side, Lincoln Center, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick\u2019s Cathedral and\u00a0Fifth Avenue.\u00a0 Ending the tour at magnificent\u00a0Grand Central Station, the Bismarck choir learned\u00a0the station’s\u00a0history and got to have lunch at its choice of markets and restaurants and food stands.\u00a0 Fifth Avenue shopping was next, and the choir strolled past decorated store windows and landmarks like Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Trump Tower, F.A.O. Schwartz, the Apple Store, and the Plaza Hotel.\u00a0 The choir arrived at historic and famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral. to sing in its\u00a0first official concert.<\/p>\n

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The Bismarck High School Choir\u00a0singing at\u00a0St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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After a stellar performance, the choir chowed-down at Texas Barbecue on chicken and ribs with all the fixin’s before heading back to Broadway. With just one rub of a magic lamp, “Aladdin\u2019s” journey swept Bismarck into an exotic world full of daring adventure, classic comedy, and timeless romance. The unforgettable experience included all the cherished songs from the Academy Award-winning score, plus more written especially for Broadway!\u00a0 After a great show, the choir headed back to its hotel for some shut-eye before another day of adventure.<\/p>\n

Breakfast at the hotel started the day on Wednesday, and soon the choir was off to an exciting day\u00a0in New York.\u00a0\u00a0Bismarck High School Choir was in for a treat at its Movement & Music workshop, led by professional Broadway\u00a0singers and dancers.\u00a0 Learning and rehearsing\u00a0choreography and music from the show they had seen the night before, “Aladdin,” the choir’s\u00a0clinicians addressed musical theater’s three major elements…acting, singing, and dancing.<\/p>\n

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The Bismarck High School Choir enjoyed its Broadway Workshop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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After the workshop, the group grabbed a quick lunch and headed for the American Museum of Natural History,\u00a0one of the most famous attractions in New York City.\u00a0Spread over several city blocks, its collections are fascinating and interesting to all ages.\u00a0 But the choir didn’t have time for a ‘night at the museum’ – it had to go directly to Citi Field, home of the New York Mets Baseball Club, to warm-up prior to singing the National Anthem to start the game.\u00a0 Afterward, the choir watched the pros and feasted on ballpark food, before returning to the hotel after a fun day!<\/p>\n

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The Bismarck High School Choir\u00a0found some\u00a0treats during the baseball game.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Leaving the hotel after breakfast Thursday, the choir’s first stop was the National September 11th Memorial and Museum, a tribute of remembrance and honor to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 (World Trade Center, Pentagon, Shanksville, PA) and to the six people killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The names of all persons who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks are inscribed in the paneling edging the two reflecting pools, within the footprints of the original Twin Towers. The museum, underground, houses many artifacts. Altogether, the memorial is a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life caused by a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history.<\/p>\n

Next, the group ascended to the top of One World Observatory, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, overlooking Ground Zero and the 9\/11 Memorial. Surveying New York, its suburbs, buildings, waterways and streets, it’s impossible not to feel the invincible spirit of the city and its people. The views at the top of One World are incredible. Descending to street level, the group picked up a box lunch and boarded the ferry for the ride across New York Harbor to the Statue of Liberty. After visiting the pedestal exhibits and learning about Lady Liberty, the Bismarck High School Choir presented a free public concert to appreciative visitors.<\/p>\n

Returning to Battery Park on the ferry, and heading uptown by coach, a major problem arose. A massive traffic snarl ensnared the coach, fatally delaying the choir’s arrival for a pre-show supper with cast members from “Wicked.” By the time the group reached the restaurant, cast members had departed to meet call times. The students and adults still had a good meal, but the MTC Tour Director, sensing everyone’s keen disappointment in missing the interaction with cast members, decided to make the situation right, later in the trip. After dinner, group members shopped and enjoyed the crowds in Times Square before returning to the hotel and bed.<\/p>\n

Friday morning, the choir visited a New York treasure, Radio City Music Hall. Taking the backstage tour, Bismarck went \u201cbehind the scenes\u201d at the home of the world-famous Rockettes! The group learned about the Great Stage and saw the mighty Wurlitzer organs, plus several rehearsal halls, in America\u2019s greatest showplace! Conveniently ending the tour in Rockefeller Center, “A City Within A City,” the students and adults explored the ice rink, tunnels, and shops in and around the 12 skyscrapers that fill the complex. After lunch, the choir visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Operating since 1870, the museum houses more than two million works of art from all over the world, ancient through modern times. Its collection is fantastic, truly a national treasure.<\/p>\n

Next came time for some serious shopping in the Times Square neighborhood. From diamonds and fine art to the latest fashions and electronics, New York has it all, including a Disney store and an outpost of Hershey’s Chocolate. After conquering Times Square, it was time for a nice supper at Ellen’s Stardust Diner. In addition to Ellen’s good food, the waiters and waitresses sang, danced and entertained the group (which was fair since Bismarck had entertained countless New Yorkers in the past week!).<\/p>\n

All of a sudden, it was time for the group’s last Broadway show: “Wicked.” Set long before Dorothy dropped in, two girls met in the land of Oz. One, Elphaba, born with emerald-green skin, was smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other was beautiful, ambitious and very popular. “Wicked’s” story tells how these two unlikely friends grew up to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.<\/p>\n

When the show ended, the MTC Tour Director unveiled his surprise, holding the group back while the rest of the patrons departed the theatre. That’s when several “Wicked” cast members walked out on stage, beckoning the students forward to the Q & A and interaction missed the night before. Engaged and engaging, everyone had a great session at this final, memorable trip treat!<\/p>\n

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The Bismarck High School Choir\u00a0had a great time\u00a0talking\u00a0with cast members from “Wicked.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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On Saturday, after breakfast, Choir Director Brian Saylor and the Bismarck High School Choir returned safely home with memories that will last for years to come!<\/p>\n

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“Our experience with Music Travel Consultants was the best travel experience we have had. Chris Forsythe and the team took care of every detail. The trip was a trip of a lifetime for my students and chaperones. The attention to detail and efficiency was amazing. Everything from the kick-off meeting, attention to our wants and needs, customizing our itinerary, accounting, billing, and especially the customer care was top notch. I can\u2019t wait to take my next MTC trip!”<\/p>\n