Hoke Co. commissioners, school officials surprise Hoke High band with trip to San Antonio

Hoke County commissioners and school officials surprised Hoke High band students with a chance to perform in San Antonio next month.

They missed a chance to perform in San Diego due to flight cancellations by Southwest Airlines earlier this month.

As the students with the Hoke High wind ensemble fine-tuned their sound Friday, their musical rehearsal came to a halt.

For good reason.

“We are headed to San Antonio, Texas. To perform at Six Flags," announced Hoke High band director Devon Pickett. "Not only that we will be performing at the botanical gardens as well."

A pleasant surprise.

"We have redemption and a better trip," said Pickett.

Two new performances, with additional expenses covered by the Hoke County board of commissioners.

"When we found out the trip to San Diego was canceled we immediately began working with the school board to figure out what we could do to make up that trip," said Hoke County chairman Allen Thomas. "To make up for that disappointment."

The San Diego trip fell flat.

Southwest, the airline the students were scheduled to fly on, was dealing with a slew of cancellations blaming “technical difficulties” related to weather as the reason.

But traveling to Texas gives French horn player Kirstin Carter-Jackson a chance to showcase her talents.

"For band kids you’re putting on all this work on the back end and you get this one chance to finally show what your hard work has finally done," said Carter-Jackson.

The power of music. Shaping young lives at home.

And beyond.

"I know they’ll get some things from Texas that will grow us into the next level," said Pickett.

While in San Antonio, the students will also receive private instruction from musicians at the The University of Texas at San Antonio.

The ensemble said they admire the work from the school.

Hoke High’s wind ensemble trip to San Antonio is planned for May 15-18.

Talk about ending on a high note.