This April vacation, the DHS Orchestra will be traveling overseas to perform in Ireland, and the upcoming trip out of the country is a source of great excitement for the group.

From looking forward to meeting kids from around the world, to getting closer to one another, the 49 member orchestra is chattering with anticipation of the event.

The trip provides an opportunity for students to broaden their horizons in many different ways. Senior Allie Paiva said, “I have never been off the continent before.” This will be an opportunity for her to participate in something that she has not been able to do before.

Paiva said her favorite piece from the performance selection is Scenes from the Emerald Isle arranged by Carrie Lane Gruse.

“They will experience four unforgettable performances,” said DHS Orchestra Director Heather Church. “Two concerts will take place with youth orchestras where they will get to meet and play with Irish musicians.” They will also perform at a master class at the Cork School of Music and perform at Kylemore Abbey in the Connemara Mountains.

Senior Lauren Hart said she also feels confident and excited about the arrangements that they will be performing. “We have a really good solo,” she said.

For some seniors, this will be their second orchestra trip across the Atlantic. In the spring of 2011, the orchestra traveled to Austria.

The orchestra is already a tight knit group, but this venture will make those bonds grow stronger. “[I’m] looking forward to being with everybody in a foreign country,” said Hart, who noted the group is already very close.

While much of the time spent in Ireland during the trip will be spent performing, the 39 tag-alongs and orchestra will also get to visit many tourist attractions. “We’ll tour the counties of Kerry, Killarney, Cork, and Galway,” said Mrs. Church. “We’ll be visiting sights such as Blarney  and Bunratty Castles, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Gap of Dunloe where they will embark on a seven-mile hike.”

Paiva said she is looking forward to the experience, meeting kids from the other schools, and being able to play with them. There is a great chance that the musicians will be able to meet new students from around the world and expand their own cultural knowledge.

Senior Hannah Cook said, “My favorite [part will be] playing with students from orchestras from Ireland and playing with students from different countries.”

“In celebration of this trip, [the orchestra] will be hosting a district-wide Fiddle Fest Concert in which all 250 string students will play,” said Mrs. Church. The night will be “devoted entirely to fiddle-style music from around the world.” The event will take place on Wednesday, April 2, at 7:00 in the DHS gym.