Music educators are at the heart of all that we do at BRT. It’s our honor to serve them, as we bring performance travel dreams to life for their programs.
We’re excited to highlight one inspiring educator in the first of our Meet a Fellow Director series – Max Chernick, Director of Bands at Bloomington High School in Bloomington, Illinois. We hope you enjoy “meeting” Max today!
Why do you travel with your students?
I love giving our students the opportunity to perform away from home, especially when they get to interact with students from other schools and other states.
Perhaps more importantly, I love that our kids, most of whom come from low-income households, are getting to travel to places that they might not otherwise get to see. Most of our students have never been out of the state of Illinois, so giving them the chance to travel and perform is extremely rewarding for me.
What does travel mean to student performers? What do they gain from the experience?
When our kids get to travel with their band family, they develop new levels of responsibility and self-reliance that is very different from traveling with their own family.
Giving students the freedom to explore a theme park or part of a new city with friends, while representing their school and community, allows kids to further develop their own identity, helping and looking out for each other, and learning while having fun.
We put a big emphasis on the responsibility that comes with these opportunities, and students take that very seriously.
Why should families choose to send their students on a trip?
Let your kids soar on their own! They will deepen the bonds with their classmates, grow as young adults, and show off for new audiences in unique settings. They will absolutely be making memories that last a lifetime.
Is there one moment from a performance trip that you’ll never forget?
Our marching band has performed in the New York City Veterans’ Day Parade twice, and both performances are not just favorite travel memories, but favorite memories of my entire career. Marching down a cavernousFifth Avenue, the crowds were huge and so appreciative! Seeing members of the military in full dress uniform stand and salute us as we marched by filled us all with a pride that cannot be reproduced.
And I can still hear the voice of someone on the sidewalk, in a heavy New York accent shouting to us, “Lookin’ good, Illinois!” It was a thrilling performance and a fantastic itinerary that former students still talk about.
What has been the most pleasant surprise about including travel in your program?
It’s not a surprise, since I have the same memory from traveling as a high school band member myself, but seeing students develop lifelong friendships from sharing these experiences is always a joy.
Seeing those introverted students come out of their shell with their roommates, or watching a senior leader take that awkward freshman under their wing for a group dinner—those are the moments that stand out to me and make me smile as both a band director and a parent.
What would you tell a fellow director who’s on the fence about travel?
It’s absolutely worth it! Even the extra fundraising or prep work will fade to the background when you see the end results. Plus, it’s a great recruiting tool for incoming students.
You’re a veteran of our Thanksgiving Parade of Bands event. What would you tell a fellow director who’s considering it?
Bob Rogers Travel and the Walt Disney Company are a magical combination! The performance is incredible, with professional production value, great clinicians, and even some Disney magic from characters and pyrotechnics.
Plus, as a mass band event, the pressure to bring a perfectly balanced ensemble is off the individual programs. The kids get to network with other students from around the country, and work together to put on a show for an international audience.
The other details, including accommodations, meals (the Thanksgiving Dinner is incredible!) and individualized service are the cherry on top. That’s why we’ve been back four times and are already planning our fifth!
What’s your favorite personal travel spot, and why?
My family and I really enjoyed hiking the canyons and national parks out west, with Zion Canyon being the favorite. The trails and vistas are incredible, and the neighboring town of Springdale, Utah, is delightful. We’re already planning our return trip!
What do you enjoy doing when not in the classroom
I play a lot of golf—whenever the weather and schedule allow for it. I’m not always very good at it, but I’m definitely able to clear my head and enjoy myself while I’m on the course.
What’s a fun fact about yourself that you’d like to share?
My family and I are big fans of the Harry Potter series. So much so that we named our adopted cats after characters: Tonks and Ollivander.