From March 25-31, members of the orchestra and band traveled to Oahu, Hawaii, to participate in the Heritage Festival. According to the Heritage Festival Web site, the festival strives to promote excellence among choirs, bands and orchestras by providing an opportunity for learning through interacting with other student performers and top music professionals.

Orchestra teacher Sandra Lewis, two parent volunteers and social studies teacher Dawna Linsdell led 58 students, which consisted of students from the string orchestra and band. Gunn was among ­­­­­­15 other schools at the festival.

The team visited the University of Hawaii, Hanauma Bay Marine Preserve, the Koaloa Ranch, the Polynesian Cultural Center and also hiked on the Diamond Head. “There’s more to Hawaii than sun-tanning,” Lewis said. “It’s a combination of everything: the people, the culture and the high level adjudicators.”

After playing in the festival, the orchestra received the Adjudicator award, gold for Chamber Orchestra and silver for String and Full Orchestra. “The orchestra did really well,” parent volunteer Alan Bien said. “It was nice to see that the students listened to the feedback from the University of Hawaii professor.”

According to Lewis, the students had a fun time. Senior orchestra member Philip Yu agreed. “Not only is it away from school, but it’s with the orchestra group,” he said. “We definitely got to get to know one another.”