On Friday, Apr. 17, the Pascack Hills Chamber Choir and concert band departed JFK airport for New Orleans for a music competition at the Crescent City Music Festival. While in the city, the group was able to experience not only an educational musical opportunity, but also a distinct encounter of New Orlean’s unique culture.
While in New Orleans, the choir and band visited a multitude of places, each scheduled with the purpose to give the students an overview of the cultural and historical assets New Orleans has.
On Friday, Apr. 17, after arriving, the group toured The National World War II Museum. This is the primary World War II museum for the United States. There, students learned about specific tactical operations of both the battles in the Pacific and Atlantic, as well as the role of art and music during the war. Additionally, students were able to view the “Beyond All Boundaries” Imax 4D movie about the war — a historical attraction the museum is specifically known for.
In the evening, the group learned about the unique culture New Orleans has to offer. At the New Orleans School of Cooking, the group was taught how to cook New Orleans recipes — like gumbo and jambalaya (similar to the Spanish dish paella) — by a chef local to the area. Afterwards, the group was taken on a ghost tour of the French Quarter where they were taught many infamous phantoms and historical stories.
On the morning of Saturday, Apr. 18, the group was able to tour “Mardi Gras World” — the working warehouse where all of the Mardi Gras parade floats are made. In the afternoon, the groups performed for judges Ashley Lemmer, Megan Dearie, and Dr. Weston Lewis. The band played “Cajun Folk Songs” by Frank Ticheli and “The White Rose” by John Philip Sousa. They won superior notions from all three judges — something that the band had not been able to receive in a decade. Soloists Kate Class on the Alto saxophone and Ettie Eggers on the trumpet were given shout-outs. The choir sang “Berusa Er!” By Sten Kallman, “Be Thou My Vision” by Connor Smith, and “Soon Ah Will Be Done” by William L. Sawson. They also won superior notions from all three judges. Soloist Caitlin Buckley was given a shoutout.
Both the choir and band were thrilled to get the opportunity to work with such renowned judges to receive feedback and further improve their repertoire. In the evening, the group boarded the Steamboat Natchez for a dinner cruise and awards ceremony.
On the morning of Sunday, Apr. 19, before departure, the choir and band enjoyed one last adventure: a tour of the Cajun Pride Swamp. There, they were able to see alligators, wild boars, and racoons in the wild and the remnants of the abandoned Frenier Village that was destroyed by a hurricane in 1915. Students were additionally able to hold baby alligators!
In all, the music trip was a great success. Teachers Ryan Dore and Margarita Elkin were thrilled the students had such a good time and were able to not only learn music, but experience a unique culture.
“In New Orleans, music isn’t just a performance; it’s a conversation. For musicians, learning about the culture means understanding that every note played on Frenchmen Street carries the weight of 300 years of brass, blues, and resistance. In NOLA, the cuisine is the roadmap of the culture—a blend of West African, French, Spanish, and Indigenous influences. Every bite of jambalaya or bite-sized beignet told you a story of survival and fusion that you simply can’t find in a textbook. You don’t just play the music—you learn to feel the heartbeat and flavor of the people who invented it, said Band Director Ryan Dore.
“As a choir director, I could not be more proud of our students for earning superior ratings at the competition. Their hard work and dedication were evident not only on stage but also in how they embraced the culture of New Orleans—learning from street musicians, experiencing the local cuisine, and reflecting on history at the WWII Museum. These experiences enriched their performance and made this achievement even more meaningful, explained Choir Director Margarita Elkin.
Check out a photo gallery from the trip below!
