ROME
It happened last year. An invitation arrived, one band director Jason Hackworth accepted on behalf of the CHS Marching Band: to come to Rome, Italy and march in the 2024 New Year's Day parade.
This kind of opportunity only comes along once in a lifetime. For a hardworking band of teenagers in Charlottesville, Virginia, the honor is humbling, inspiring, and something of a dream.
Not only will we the band perform in the parade and at some other venues, but we'll have the chance to visit famous sites like the Vatican, Colosseum, and the catacombs beneath the Appian Way, as well as Charlottesville's sister city, Poggio a Caiano.
Research shows that youth who travel end up "making 12% more per year and were significantly more likely to graduate from college ..."
Why This Trip Matters
Some of our students haven't traveled outside of Virginia, let alone the United States. For some, the mere task of getting a passport is a first. Being part of this kind of cultural arts exchange can open up all kinds of doors in both the minds and lives of our students. Italy will prepare them for the world.
This experience will expose these kids to international travel, culture, music, arts, and language, expanding their vision of the world and their part within it. They'll visit locations and places they've only read about or seen on TV. And, most importantly, the kids will share this adventure as a community. In a few brief, intense days, they'll learn so much beyond what we can anticipate or predict.
Why We Need Money
As you can imagine, the cost of flying a high school marching band across the Atlantic is not small. But we're not just flying the band kids. We also need to pay for:
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Chaperones - we need to make sure we have the required number of supervising adults
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Staff - assistants who make the whole thing possible
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Safe shipping of instruments and gear - drums, tubas, mellaphones, etc. as well as color guard flags, etc.
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Uniforms, jackets, shoes - we'll need band-identifying outerwear to perform in the cold
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Food, lodging, guides, logistics - all the details that can't be forgotten
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Making sure no kid is left behind - our commitment is to make sure every student who wants to can go, whether they can pay for it or not
We Need Your Help
We've already raised funds as a band and as individuals. But the trip is looming, and we still need $30,000 to cover what we need. Help us make this trip the special, life-changing experience
happen.
"Teenagers who travel internationally develop the ability to see the world from multiple perspectives, recognizing that their own cultural norms are not the only valid ones. This understanding promotes empathy, tolerance, and respect for others, breaking down stereotypes and prejudice."
The Road Less Traveled
