After much planning and preparation by Adams Middle School’s Lindsay Vietti and her aide Susie Dutcher, plus the support of dedicated parents, the school’s performance tour to our nation’s capital became a reality. The trip was packed with dawn-to-dusk activities every day.

The first test of the Adams band was a performance at the Organization of American Kodály Educators Conference. Of the trip’s many highlights, the performance at the Sylvan Theater was memorable, set against the backdrop of the Washington Monument. Steady rain, a slight breeze and temperatures in the mid-40s made it far from an ideal venue (although the stage was covered). But the students convinced Vietti that they all wanted to play. And the audience was glad they did.

The ensemble also visited Liberty Middle School in Clifton, Va., where the Adams students participated in an exchange rehearsal and performance with Liberty’s band. The potluck dinner provided by the Liberty parents helped the Adams students feel right at home.

– Contributed by Mike Subocz