By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac dispatched its Chieftain Marching Band to spring break in Florida on a high note.
Tuesday night's spring concert in the Union High gymnasium ended with a standing ovation ringing in musicians' ears.
Two Dixon-Myers motor coaches will transport 83 musicians and 21 adults, including Directors Josh Bartz and Tom Stansifer.
Monday students visit Typhoon Lagoon water park and eat their evening meal at Sleuths Mystery Dinner Theatre.
Tuesday's itinerary calls for breakfast at Fantasia Garden Pavilion near MGM Studios and the theme park of choice, MGM or EPCOT, plus an instrumental workshop.
Wednesday, April 6, the day the band performs at 2:30 p.m., will be devoted to the Magic Kingdom after beginning with a breakfast buffet at the House of Blues.
Highlights Thursday, April 7, in Clearwater include a beach barbecue and Show Queen dinner cruise.
The band expects to arrive back at DUHS about 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 8.
Bartz presented the 18 seniors of his first graduating class during the concert, which featured Stansifer's seventh and eighth grade bands along with the DUHS Symphonic Band.
Bartz said the learning went both ways, with them imparting area traditions on him as a newcomer.
Terry Ausra, percussion, will attend Southwestern Michigan College.
Jake Bjork, percussion, will study music education at Vandercook University in Illinois.
Rachel Hill, clarinet, will attend SMC and ultimately open a restaurant in Chicago.
Amy Klapchuk, flute, will attend SMC.
Laura Kroboth, clarinet, will attend SMC to study photography or, possibly, cinematography.
James Larson, tenor saxophone, intends to join the Army and pursue a career in gunsmithing.
Jordan Markham, percussion, will study nursing at SMC, then complete her master's degree at Grand Valley State University.
Rose Middleton, tuba, who conducted the eighth grade band at the holiday concert, wants to become a band director after attending SMC.
Keera Morton, French horn, who played with the South Bend Youth Symphony, is headed for Chicago's Columbia College to study musical theater and "wait tables at numerous restaurants, fully embracing the starving artists' lifestyle."
Kelsey Parmley, flute, will begin her path to teaching elementary school at SMC and Western Michigan University.
Sam Preston, percussion, will study at Western or Michigan State University.
Lianna Revis, clarinet, will study music at WMU.
Jackie Sayre, alto saxophone, will attend SMC, then transfer to Andrews University for clinical laboratory science.
Jason Smith, trombone and guitar, will attend SMC with an ambition to become a musician.
Kathryn Smith, trumpet, will attend SMC.
Danielle Stanton, percussion, will go to Taylor University in Upland, Ind., to play soccer or Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., to study sports medicine.
Allie Unruh, flute, will continue her education at SMC.
Katie Wright, alto saxophone, is considering Bible college in Joplin, Mo.