Local school musicians compete in Chicago, New York City

Education is more than the reading, writing and arithmetic that take place within the four walls of a classroom. Quality education opens doors to other forms of learning -- academics, art, sports, music. All of it helps shape young minds and hearts. Recently, Cape Girardeau Central High School and Jackson High School band students had the honor of sharing their musical talents in New York and Chicago, respectively, while simultaneously being enriched by the experience.

Central Wind Symphony and jazz band members, under the direction of Josh LaMar, the Cape Girardeau School District's director of bands, visited New York from April 6 to 10 "to showcase their abilities in the most rigorous way," reported the Southeast Missourian's Lindsay Jones. On April 9, 67 band members participated in the WorldStrides New York Heritage Festival 2016, performing at the Riverside Church in New York. The band should be proud, as they placed second of eight schools competing.

Tourists do not travel to the Empire State, the Big Apple in particular, without taking in the sights. The band visited the 9/11 Memorial Museum, Times Square and the Statue of Liberty. That this was a historical moment was not lost on them. Band members described the exposure as "really cool" and "a cool kind of vibe."

While Central was enjoying the city that never sleeps, 48 Jackson Wind Symphony members were in Chicago, the Windy City, for the National Adjudicators Invitational Music Festival. Like their Cape counterpart, Jackson fared well, scoring 96, 97, 98 and 100.

The director of bands, Tom Broussard, praised his band members: "To be able to score like that was wonderful," he said. "Our kids just performed magnificently."

Such exemplary performances are no surprise to those familiar with this talented group. After all, they were granted the opportunity to participate in the first place because of their No. 1 state rating, a feat they have achieved "since 1968, every year," Broussard said.

Like Central, Jackson also did not waste an opportunity to take in sights and enjoy the culture that is Chicago. Most notably, the group enjoyed a performance by the Chicago Symphony.

Every time students get to take their learning beyond the classroom is time well-invested. It creates memories for them to cherish, exposes them to the finer things in life and molds them into well-rounded individuals who contribute to society -- and that is music to our ears.