CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Clover Hill High School’s Marching Band, the Marching Cavaliers, will perform at Pearl Harbor on December 7, Pearl Harbor Day, as part of the 75th anniversary of the attack on naval base in Hawaii.
The group was invited to perform on the pier of the U.S.S. Battleship Missouri as part of the 75th Pearl Harbor Mass Band. The band consists of more than 1,200 student musicians from across the country and is led by Dr. Robert W. Smith, world-renowned composer and conductor.
"Since it's a mass band performance there's going to be a bunch of other high schools there," band member Rachel Kelly said. "It's really incredible that we were picked to go and represent Virginia."
Band member Rachel Kelly
In order to be considered for the honor, the Clover Hill Marching Cavaliers submitted an application, video of their performances, biography, and a photograph of the marching band to be selected for this amazing experience.
"We're really like a family," band member Benjamin Kindberg said. "There's nobody I'd rather be playing with or marching beside."
Prior to departure, the students have been rehearsing 10 different musical compositions that the massed band will perform.
In addition to the rehearsals, the marching band visited the Virginia War Memorial for a special World War II Pacific Seminar to learn more about the attack on Pearl Harbor. While at the Virginia War Memorial, students will tour the Shrine of Memories, see original WWII letters and have discussions with WWII Veterans.
"It impacted us," band member Grace Tolbert said. "We got to talk with veterans also. So we get to see their view. It was pretty great."
The trip will be the last for Steven Conley as CCHS Director of Bands.
Steven Conley
"It's bittersweet," Conley said. "It's been such an honor to work with the students that I've worked with for the past 34 years and just can't believe all the places I've been able to go to and experiences I've been able to share with and for my students."
Friends and family members will be able to watch the performance streamed live here at 5 p.m. EST on December 7, 2016.
