President Barack Obama takes the oath of office.
WASHINGTON -- The Skaneateles High School Orchestra wrapped up a weekend trip to a music festival in the Washington D.C. Area with a visit to the National Mall this morning to witness the inauguration of President Barack Obama. The group had a 5:00 a.m. wake up call to board their bus from Maryland into D.C. They then endured an hour and a half walk to reach a spot on the Mall near the Washington Monument where they could see one of the giant plasma screens projecting the image of President Obama.
Orchestra conductor Karen Veverka said she had the students hold hands and wear arm bands to improve the chance of keeping the group together. She said,"the massive crowd created an electric atmosphere. The feeling of being in the crowd was like nothing I've felt before." Jared Mulcahy is a sophomore bass player in the orchestra he summed up the atmosphere saying, "it was crazy."
Veverka began organizing the trip last June. Even with the cold weather and the crowd she is thrilled she could bring the students. She said,"it's something they're never going to forget. I've never felt a part of history more than today. They're going to take that away the rest of their lives. They'll look back on today and remember what an amazing experience it was especially having to battle the crowds to get up at five in the morning and actually be standing there as Barack Obama was sworn in."
She may have to plan another trip for the orchestra next year. While in Washington the group won first place in the Heritage Musical festival at George Mason University. They also received an invitation to play at the Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts for being the outstanding ensemble at the festival. Veverka says it is too soon to commit to that trip. She and the students are too busy enjoying the moment of history they have just witnessed.
