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Westborough School Committee approves international band trip to Germany and Denmark in 2027
Summary
The committee voted to approve a student band exchange trip April 17–23, 2027, to Hamburg and Copenhagen. The trip is expected to cost about $3,000 per student based on a 50-person group; fundraising and payment plans will be used to improve affordability.
The Westborough School Committee voted to approve an international band trip scheduled for April 17–23, 2027, that will send eligible Westborough band students to Hamburg, Germany, and Copenhagen, Denmark.
Band program staff presented the plan, saying the trip is an exchange arranged with a German high-school band that visited Westborough in October and that students from current grades 7–10 in the band program would be eligible. The presenter said the itinerary would include two initial nights in Hamburg, several days hosted by the partner band (including stay-in host families), exchange concerts, and a final stop in Copenhagen before departure.
The presenter said the travel company used for the district’s New York City trip will be used again, with online family accounts, optional trip insurance and centralized handling of trip payments. “We are looking in 2 years, April vacation of 2027, to travel to Germany … and then head off to Copenhagen in Denmark,” the band director said. The presenter estimated a per-student cost of about $3,000 if roughly 50 people participate and said the planning team intends to spend the next two years fundraising and offering payment plans to lower the out‑of‑pocket cost for families.
Committee members pressed for logistics and access details and were told the vendor’s quote is guaranteed for 90 days; if the committee authorized the trip the presenter said they would call the travel agency immediately to lock the current price. The presenter said larger instruments would be rented in-country if needed, wind instruments would travel with students, and percussion would be provided by partner schools. The parent organization WAFIA has mobilized fundraising and the presenter said the district will use fundraisers and scholarships to defray costs.
The committee voted on the motion to approve the trip and the motion passed by voice vote. The presenter said they will return to the committee with more detailed information as planning advances.
Ending: The presenter asked the committee for approval so fundraising can begin; the district will provide further trip details and a more complete payment/fundraising plan at a future meeting.
