About 100 students in the instrumental music program and Color Guard spent a weekend in San Diego sightseeing and performing at Balboa Park from Feb. 21- Feb. 23.
On Saturday, students traveled to San Diego’s Balboa park, where they spent a few hours preparing and warming up. They spent a few hours performing before any at Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Before the trip, orchestra members had been spending time before school practicing to ensure the pep tunes would give the desired effect.
“We saw a cat at the very entrance to the Japanese Gardens, but the best part of [the trip] was going to the mall with friends,” viola freshman Rachel Lin said.
Students left campus on Friday morning and departed for their first location, the United States Ship (USS) Midway Museum. Tours were self-guided, so students were allowed to freely roam the aircraft carrier. Afterwards, students walked over to Seaport Village, where they shopped for souvenirs. Following a quick check-in at the hotel, students were allowed to spend some time with friends wandering the Fashion Valley Mall.
“We’ve been practicing pep tunes throughout the year. We mostly play the [ones] that we find very iconic. We’re definitely able to get the excited reaction we want out of them,” clarinet band captain senior Bryan Cardeno said.
Students were able to connect with friends through traveling in smaller group sizes, visiting the Japanese Gardens and watching the live action play “Wicked” on Saturday. The Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum they walked through was intricately decorated with plants, and the Broadway Wicked show took place at the San Diego Civic Theater.
The trip shined in giving a chance for students to bond with peers, and had another overnight rest at their hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton. Their last day was mainly taken up by an extensive trip to the San Diego Zoo, where students were again allowed to roam in small groups. The bus took them back to Walnut High School, where they unloaded instruments and went home, closing off the weekend.
“My favorite part of the trip was the Wicked musical. We were able to see a very good live performance. It was breathtaking [and] beautiful. The singers and actors were really good,” band captain flautist junior Chinar Gaijar said.
![In the spotlight | “I was trying to act scared by all of those paparazzi flashing the cameras at me. I was feeling excited and I had a lot of energy doing it. At first I was very stressed out but in the end, it was all worth it. I had a lot of fun and I loved [performing]” Rhapsody in Blue tenor sophomore Kiersten Tyra San Diego said.](https://whshoofprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1CE6CC81-53F7-409A-A48E-22C12474264F-1200x800.jpeg)
