Jacob Burkhart wanted to go to New York to finish his senior year off with a memorable experience learning about music and culture in the Big Apple.

“I really wanted to go because it was my senior year and I just really wanted to go to New York with all my friends that I made in band,” Jacob said. “And experience all the cool, really once-in-a-lifetime stuff that we were going to do in New York.”

Jacob was one of more than 100 Austin High School band students who went to New York City over spring break — March 26 to March 31 — to learn and experience music in a new way. Band director Brad Mariska said organizers have been planning the trip for about two years, since the band, orchestra and choir programs alternate years to take trips.

“We wanted to make sure we got the trip reinstated and pick a trip that would really get the kids excited about going,” Mariska said. “Because I think it’s important for the kids to get out of Austin to see a big city and to see the music culture in a big city.”

Jacob, a trumpet player, traveled to the city with the orchestra two years ago, and this was a second chance to experience the big music culture of New York.

“I learned a lot about the music in New York,” he said. “Just the huge music culture that they have there. It’s just the biggest music culture I’ve ever seen in a town, and I love that.”

One of Jacob’s favorite parts of the trip was when he saw “Wicked” on Broadway. He said anyone who visits the city or has a new experience like this should take chances and make the adventure exciting.

“Try something new,” he said. “Step out of your comfort zone, because it’s awesome.”

Playing in Times Square

Jacob thanked Mariska and the other chaperones for helping make the trip a reality.

“I think Mariska and all the chaperones [and bus drivers] should get huge credit for putting up with 108 high-schoolers all week,” he said. “That’s a big task, because that can get kind of annoying.”

The 108 students not only experienced music in New York, they also let New York experience the sounds of AHS. The jazz band, concert band and wind ensemble all took part in the Heritage Performance Festival in New York — scheduled through a tour company — competing in Riverside Church.

“All three groups did very well,” Mariska said.

The wind ensemble won first place in its competition, and the jazz and concert bands took second place in their competitions, winning a large trophy and adjudicators awards.

The jazz band also performed in Times Square on March 27, which Mariska said was fun to see.

“That was really exciting,” Mariska said. “It was almost surreal to be standing in the middle of Times Square and there’s thousands of people walking [around].”

Performers are required to get a permit to perform in Times Square, and Mariska said there were several officers who asked to see their permit, not believing right away they had one. He also recalled many people stopping to listen to the players.

“That was fun for not only for the students but also for myself and the chaperones,” Mariska said.

Not all the band students participated in the trip, and students paid about $1,000 to go.

Break in the big city

Kendall Hull, a piccolo player, was excited to spend spring break in New York, on a trip with friends in a bigger city than Austin.

“It was fun to be on a trip with friends and experience something very different from Austin where we’re from,” she said. “And I would go back anytime.”

She also enjoyed the broadway musical she saw, “The Lion King,” and learned a lot during her second time in New York.

“By getting out of Austin there are bigger and better things that you can do,” she said.

“Take the opportunity, spend the money,” she added. “It’s a great experience and it’s one that you’ll never forget.”

Mariska was glad to see the students get so much from experiencing New York City, as he himself loves the city.

“It’s my favorite city,” he said. “It’s a place I’ve traveled to a lot. There’s just so many opportunities for the students not only explore and see important music sites and performances … but also the fact that there’s just so many other tourist attractions too.”

The group was able to see the Statue of Liberty, many museums, Central Park, China Town and many more places on the trip.

“These are all just really sort of iconic places that everyone should visit in their life,” Mariska said. “And we were able to visit them all in the span of four to five days.”

The trip was percussionist Isaac Schumacher’s first time visiting New York.

“We just thought it would be a beautiful opportunity to be exposed to a little bit more of American culture and music culture, and just be around a lot of our friends and stuff like that,” he said.

He recalled a jazz club some of the students spent time at, and the awards the groups won. He also remembered seeing the 9/11 memorial and the Top of the Rock, and enjoyed the broadway musical he saw.

Although he enjoyed New York and learned a lot about music culture, he was disappointed about a few things.

“I learned that Time Square is not as big as you’d think it is, and it’s also full of people in homemade costumes trying to hustle money out of you,” he said. “So it’s not my favorite part of New York City.”

He recommended people explore the different foods New York has to offer, and thanked Mariska and all the chaperones for the opportunity to take part in the trip.

Mariska hopes the students didn’t only have fun during the trip, but also that they gained an appreciation for a bigger world outside of where they currently live. After seeing broadway shows and hearing other music influences, he hoped the students saw that music doesn’t have to stay in high school.

“To remind them that what they’re doing music-wise has the potential to take them anywhere in the world,” he said.

“Hopefully there was enough variety that everyone was able to experience something that was special and meaningful,” Mariska added.