CHS Band Trip to Chicago

At the very end of Abby's spring break, Benji took off for his band trip to Chicago. The band/chorus/orchestra took a combined trip this year, setting out on an overnight bus trip on Wednesday and returning very late Sunday night. Benji was kind enough to share some of the highlights with us:

After the overnight bus ride, the students spent some time Thursday enjoying the Miracle Mile

They went up the Hancock building

For lunch, Benji's chaperone - Evin's dad, who is from Chicago - treated them to his favorite deep dish pizza (which turned out well because the pizza place the program sent them to for dinner did not offer a cheese deep dish and was also not very good)

After lunch, they took a Chicago architecture tour by boat, where Benji was particularly tickled by being able to see the Metra running below ground level

They got back to the hotel late, only to find that the hotel on the itinerary did not have rooms for them. They eventually found space for them at the Marriott, but look how tired they are waiting around that the Hilton!

Day two (Friday) started with a master class, followed by a trip to the Field Museum:

Later in the day they explored Millennium Park and visited Millennium Cloud Gate (aka the bean):

Benji missed the big group picture at the bean because one of the chaperones offered take him on the L (after hearing Benji discuss it in detail)

In the evening, the group split in two and Benji's half went to see a jazz concert at the Symphony Center (home of the CSO):

Benji sat with Mr. Hackworth and his wife

Group picture outside the CSO

On Saturday, the group performed/competed in the morning and finished the day at Medieval Times:

Hard to see, but Benji has 2 crowns

Awards were held at the end, and CHS were the grand champions (Benji is holding one of the award plaques)