SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL BAND TO PERFORM AT CARNEGIE HALL THIS WEEKEND

VON ORMY – The Southwest High School (SWHS) Band has a different answer to the pop culture question “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Not only did the band have to practice, practice, practice-they had to send in an audition with musical samples to be invited.

More than a hundred students - 111 to be exact- will leave for the Big Apple on Thursday morning, in preparation for their performance at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, March 26. The high school’s two wind ensembles were selected to perform at the prestigious venue. Wind Ensemble A will perform at 9:30 a.m. and Wind Ensemble B will perform at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The students have been busy rehearsing over Spring Break, and a have a busy schedule this week, complete with a Fine Arts Pep Rally in their honor on Tuesday at 8 a.m., hosted by the SWHS athletes and spirit organizations. On Thursday, they will depart at 3:15 a.m. from the high school to the San Antonio International Airport, where they are scheduled to take their flight at 6 a.m. While in New York, the students will visit the Empire State Building, enjoy a walking tour of Times Square, visit the Statue of Liberty, and watch the Broadway Shows, Les Miserables and Wicked.

For many students, this is the first time ever flying on a plane, and for some, even leaving the State. For high school junior, Ti Mitchell, an autistic student at SWHS, this is more than a once in a life-time opportunity, this is something that his entire family never imagined would happen.