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Local high school band set to perform in China

By Gina Esposito, wsoctv.com
By Gina Esposito, wsoctv.com

HARRISBURG, N.C. — The Hickory Ridge High School Wind Ensemble will leave Wednesday to perform in China.

Each year, the U.S. China Cultural and Education Foundation selects two schools to perform in China.

This year, Hickory Ridge was selected. The band will take 44 students to perform in five cities.

It is such an honor, the band received congratulations from Gov. Roy Cooper and the town mayor of Harrisburg.

"I'm just so excited,” said senior Andrew Coyle, who has been practicing for the tour for two years. “It’s a great opportunity, a once in a lifetime,"

The band will be playing a mix of literature.

There are some songs that have a special North Carolina connection, while others were picked to represent the Chinese culture.

"We were playing the march of the PLA -- People's Liberation Army, which is their service march,” said band director Chris White. “We're hoping to honor them with some of the music that is representative of their country and of their culture, and things they would know."

White said the band will also incorporate music from the Olympics since the next Winter Games will be in Beijing.

Channel 9 asked White about current tensions between the U.S. China over tariffs and a potential trade war.

White said it will be a learning opportunity for the students.

"We are trying to protect our interest. They are trying to protect their interests,” White said. “They're just normal people like us. We just have different views of the story. Hopefully, this will lead to a little bit more of an understanding between our group of students and the audiences we will get to play for.”

The band is hosting a special concert, free to the public, at Hickory Ridge High School at 6 p.m. Monday.

The band will return on April 7.

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