Performing Arts Students Shine During Virginia Beach Trip

A total of 112 travelers – including students, staff and parent chaperones – departed Thursday morning and returned Sunday evening. The ensembles were led by Nick Deutsch, band; Laura Surguine, chorus; and Karen Chisholm, orchestra.

The annual performing arts trip provides students with opportunities to apply classroom learning in real-world settings while strengthening collaboration and performance skills. 

“It reinforces the importance of preparation, professionalism and collaboration while also allowing students to experience music beyond our school walls,” Mr. Deutsch said. “These trips build community within the ensemble, create shared goals, and provide memorable experiences that often become defining moments in a student’s musical journey.”

The annual trip creates shared experiences – both musical and personal – that help students feel more invested in the group and in each other.

“What made this trip especially meaningful was the combination of high-level musical experiences and genuine moments of connection among the students,” Mr. Deutsch said. “They were able to perform and receive feedback, but also spend time together outside of rehearsal, which strengthened relationships across the ensemble.”

On Friday, band, orchestra and choir students attended educational clinics with faculty from Old Dominion University. Members of the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band worked with Dr. Tyler Austin, director of bands at ODU, receiving professional instruction and feedback.

“He challenged them musically while also reinforcing concepts we emphasize in our program – tone quality, ensemble balance, and musical intent,” Mr. Deutsch said. “More importantly, he gave them a different perspective, which helped validate their work and pushed them to think more deeply about their performance. Experiences like that help students grow in ways that go beyond what we can always accomplish in our own rehearsal space.”

On Saturday, the Upper St. Clair Marching Band performed in the Parade of Nations, a judged parade in downtown Norfolk that is part of the Virginia Arts Festival. The band earned distinction as one of three Gold Medal Finalists and also received the award for Best Percussion. 

“The Parade of Nations is the only parade in the United States to honor NATO, featuring over 100 parade units, including U.S. and international bands, military units, community groups and floats representing every NATO member nation,” Mr. Deutsch said. “There’s something powerful about being in a new environment, rising to the occasion, and then hearing directly from a professional about how to take the next step.”

Later that evening, students attended the Virginia International Tattoo, the signature event of the Virginia Arts Festival. The production featured more than 1,000 performers, including fife and drum corps, bagpipers, military bands and precision drill teams from around the world.

Mr. Deutsch said the most meaningful aspect of the trip was the growth he observed in students.

“Throughout the trip, I watched them step up in ways that don’t always show up in a rehearsal setting,” he said. “They took ownership of their performance, responded thoughtfully to feedback, and supported each other in a really genuine way. There were moments where they had to adjust, problem-solve, and hold themselves to a high standard, and they did that without being asked.”

In addition to providing students with opportunity for growth, the performance trip offers affirmation for its staff and directors.

“As a director, those are the moments that stick with me,” Mr. Deutsch said. “Seeing students represent our program with maturity, respect, and pride – whether they were on stage, marching down a street, working with clinicians, or just interacting with others – really meant a lot. It reminded me why we do these trips in the first place.”

The trip also provided valuable opportunities for collaboration among students, staff and families. Fourteen parent chaperones from the band, choir and orchestra accompanied the students, helping strengthen connections across the performing arts community.

“In the day-to-day of the school year, interactions are often brief – concerts, emails, quick conversations,” Mr. Deutsch said. “On a trip like this, you get the chance to actually spend time together and build relationships.”

Small moments sitting on a bus for hours, sharing meals each morning, and gathering every night before room checks start to add up.

“You have real conversations, share stories, and begin to see the full picture of the community that supports our students,” Mr. Deutsch said. “I always come away from these trips with a deeper appreciation for our families – their commitment, their trust, and the role they play in making this program what it is.”

By the end of the trip, the experience helps build unity across all performing arts groups.

“Having students and parents from choir, band and orchestra together in one space reinforces that we’re all part of something bigger,” Mr. Deutsch said. “By the end of the trip, it feels less like separate groups and more like one connected community, which is really special to be a part of.”