{"id":1229,"date":"2007-09-13T19:48:03","date_gmt":"2007-09-13T19:48:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.musictravel.com\/blog\/?p=1229"},"modified":"2018-06-27T12:59:52","modified_gmt":"2018-06-27T12:59:52","slug":"chicago-marching-band-trips-ohio-state-school-for-the-blind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musictravel.com\/blog\/2007\/09\/13\/chicago-marching-band-trips-ohio-state-school-for-the-blind\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Band"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chicago band trips are one of Music Travel Consultants specialties.\u00a0 The Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Band’s performances in\u00a0the Windy City were simply spectacular!\u00a0 We couldn’t wait to share this band’s trip.<\/p>\n

The OSSB Marching Band<\/a> is the only blind marching band in the world, and its members come from all over the state of Ohio. Internationally recognized, the\u00a0band under is\u00a0the leadership of Director Yolanda Johnson, Drill Writer Jeff Schneider, and founder Carol Agler.\u00a0 OSSBMB recently represented the state of Ohio in the National Memorial Day parade in Washington, D.C. On September 21, 2013.\u00a0 They joined The Ohio State University Marching Band in a \u201cDouble Ohio\u201d drill during halftime. OSUMB performed Script Ohio, while OSSBMB performed\u00a0its signature drill, in which\u00a0it spells\u00a0out \u201cOhio\u201d in Braille.<\/p>\n

OSSBMB\u00a0received the prestigious \u201cCreative Use of Braille\u201d award\u00a0from the American Printing House for the Blind (AMP) in October 2013, for\u00a0its use of Braille in its drill.\u00a0 And, in 2010, the band marched in the Jan. 1 Tournament of Roses Parade. For opening the eyes of\u00a0its community by creating new standards of excellence for persons with disabilities, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity awarded OSSBMB its prestigious National Citation.<\/p>\n

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Great view of the Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Band in the Lions International Parade performing for the crowd.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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This past spring, Music Travel Consultants had the privilege of taking the OSSB Marching Band to perform in the Lions International Parade and at the iconic Field Museum. The group also enjoyed a Broadway show and much more! Here is a rundown of this memorable trip:<\/p>\n

The OSSB Marching Band left their school with their MTC Tour Director early on a Friday morning, on\u00a0a motor coach headed for Chicago. After a quick en-route lunch, the band arrived in the city of superlatives\u2014world class museums, America\u2019s second tallest building, mouth-watering cuisine, dazzling shops, the Magnificent Mile, and one of the most dramatic skylines in the nation!<\/p>\n

First up was the Museum of Science & Industry, the world’s most popular museum, in which the band experienced games and the Apollo 8 Space Ship. They also visited the Coal Mine Special Exhibit. After the museum, the band enjoyed a dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, a popular eatery featuring great rock memorabilia, music, and food in a high-energy setting.<\/p>\n

Then, it was off to the Magnificent Mile. It doesn\u2019t get any better than the Windy City\u2019s North Michigan Avenue when it comes to shopping. From Water Tower Place to Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Crate & Barrel, H&M and Filene’s Basement, the choices are many. If it has a brand name or a logo, you can find it here! After the shopping extravaganza, the band called it a day and loaded the coach for the DoubleTree Hotel.<\/p>\n

At an early get up and go time of 5:oo a.m. the next day, the band grabbed breakfast at the hotel, dressed in parade attire, and brought their instruments for the performance in the Lions International Parade!<\/p>\n

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The official Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Band drum head.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lions Clubs International was celebrating its 100th Anniversary!\u00a0 Founded in 1917, charged to improve its member’s communities, Lions Clubs have made\u00a0its mission world-wide to aid the blind and visually impaired.\u00a0 As a special anniversary event, Lions International\u00a0planned a gala parade through downtown Chicago, and\u00a0the Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Band would perform in the gala parade in downtown Chicago, as the only band selected to represent the State of Ohio.<\/p>\n

The parade route (approx. 1 mile long) began at the intersection of Lake and State streets, then proceeded down State Street,\u00a0past the judge’s stand,\u00a0and ended at\u00a0State Street’s\u00a0intersection\u00a0with Van Buren Street. Parade viewers lined the\u00a0parade route along State between Lake and Van Buren streets.<\/p>\n

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The Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Band making memories.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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“As much as I admired the kids, it was just as humbling to meet the adult volunteers who are assigned to each student when they march. These aren’t typically parents of the students, they are volunteers who have connected with the program somewhere along the way. One couple has been doing it for a decade or more.<\/p>\n

One other aspect of the trip that stands out was the positive and supportive reaction of everyone to their performances. The parade had a very large and appreciative crowd all along the route, and after it was over, so many people from all over the world (the international delegations at the Lions Parade were huge!) wanted to meet, take photos, and trade pins with the kids. And at the Field Museum, the crowd loved that they not only played, they marched!”<\/p>\n