Buchanan Chamber Orchestra
Seattle Trip
Wednesday-Monday, March 12-17, 2025
Last Update: 1/21/25 • 4:30pm
Itinerary Shortcuts
Wednesday • Thursday • Friday • Saturday • Sunday • Monday
General Details
Hotel (Wed): Embassy Suites San Rafael - Marin County, 101 McInnis Parkway, San Rafael, CA 94903, (415) 499-9222
Hotel (Thu-Mon): Embassy Suites Downtown Seattle, 255 South King Street, Seattle, Washington, 98104
Emergency Contact: John Lack, Director, 509-389-0467
Chaperones: TBD
Flight Information
Outbound Flight Info (Thursday): Southwest Airlines Flight #3716, Oakland to Seattle
Return Flight Info (Monday): Southwest Airlines Flight #2717/#2149, Seattle to Fresno (via Las Vegas)
What can you bring on a flight? Click Here
Festival Information
Festival Site Thursday: Green Music Center, Sonoma State University
Festival Schedule: TBA
Buchanan Performs (Saturday): TBD
Festival Site Saturday: Western Washington University
Festival Schedule: TBA
Buchanan Performs (Saturday): TBD
Important Reminders
Be prepared for the weather. Seattle’s average high temperature in early March is in the low 50’s with lows in the 40’s. We will likely see rain, maybe even snow on the trip! Scroll down for the current forecasts for the locations we are visiting.
Label EVERYTHING you are bringing on the trip.
Plan to bring one carry-on size or medium size suitcase and a normal size backpack, in addition to your instrument. No extra large suitcases! You must be able to carry/pull all of your belongings.
Violins and Violas: Your instrument will be carried onto the plane along with your backpack or smaller item. You will check your suitcase.
Cellos: Your instruments will checked. You should also check your carry-on suitcase.
Basses: Pack your bows and stools.
Be smart with your money on the trip and always keep it in a safe place.
Respect each other’s property and keep an eye out for suspicious behavior of those outside our program. Report anything you see to the director or chaperones immediately.
Medications
You must have the completed medication signed by a doctor on file at Buchanan before the trip for any medications that will be taken on the trip. Click here for the form and more information.
Packing List
Your instrument, music, mutes, and rock stops. Basses bring your bows.
Outfit Planning & Packing:
Coming soon!
Concert attire (Tuxedos & Dresses).
Jacket/raincoat, gloves, hat.
GOOD walking shoes.
Appropriate sleeping attire for the hotel room.
Toiletries and Personal Items (i.e. toothbrush, shampoo, soap, etc)
Swimsuit for the hotel pool.
Small umbrella
Money for Food (TBD)
Money for Souvenirs Optional (TBD)
Meal Planning
Coming Soon!
Wednesday • March 12, 2025
Travel: Clovis, CA to Rohert Park, CA (Map) via charter bus
Hotel: Embassy Suites San Rafael - Marin County, 101 McInnis Parkway, San Rafael, CA 94903
Meals: Breakfast on your own before you arrive at school, lunch at school,
7:30am Drop off luggage @ BHS Bandroom.
8:07am School Starts
3:15pm Schools Out. Report to the Bandroom. Bag Check.
4:00pm Depart for San Rafael/Sonoma State
6:00pm Dinner Stop in Modesto/Ceres ($)
7:00pm Continue to San Rafael
9:45pm Arrive at the hotel. Check in.
10:30pm Room Check.
11:15pm Lights Out
Thursday • March 13, 2025
Travel: Rohnert Park (Sonoma State) to Oakland International Airport and flight from Oakland, CA to Seattle, WA (Map)
Hotel: Embassy Suites Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square, 255 South King Street, Seattle, Washington, 98104, USA
Meals: Breakfast free at the hotel, lunch on campus at Sonoma State ($12-$15), dinner at airport before our flight ($). Southwest Airlines offers free soft drinks, juice, coffee, and snacks on their flights.
5:30am Wake Up Call/Breakfast (Free @ Hotel)/Chamber Orchestra change into Concert Attire
7:00am Room Check Out: In your room, bags packed, and room cleaned up. Hand your keys to the chaperone. After you are dimissed, load luggage on bus. Load bus when chaperone is available for attendance.
7:30am Depart for Sonoma State University
8:15am Arrive at Green Music Center at Sonoma State University
8:30am Watch the Foothill Symphony Orchestra
9:30am Chamber Orchestra Warm Up
10:00am Buchanan Chamber Orchestra Performance (Weill Hall)
10:30am Clinic
11:00am Lunch at the food trucks or you may walk to lunch at “The Kitchens” campus dining facility. ($) (Map to The Kitchens)
12:00pm Walk back to Weill Hall
12:15pm Watch Sonoma State Orchestra & Band Performances
2:00pm Watch Livermore Honors Chamber Orchestra
2:30pm Load Bus
2:45pm Depart for Oakland
4:30pm Dinner Stop
5:30pm Load Bus/Depart for Airport
6:00pm Arrive at Oakland Airport. Check-in and proceed through security. Dinner in terminal ($).
8:05pm Board flight #3716. Gate #TBA
8:35pm Flight #3716 departs Oakland. Southwest Airlines offers free soft drinks, juice, coffee, and snacks on their flights.
10:45pm Flight lands in Seattle.
11:15pm Get luggage.
11:45pm Take light rail to hotel
12:15am Arrive & Checkin.
12:45am Room Check/Lights Out
Friday • March 14, 2024
Travel: In Seattle all day!
Hotel: Embassy Suites Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square, 255 South King Street, Seattle, Washington, 98104, USA
Meals: Breakfast free at the hotel. Lunch TBD. Dinner TBD
8:45am Wake Up Call/Breakfast (Provided)
10:00am Meet in Lobby/Walk to Light Rail Station
10:15am Take Light Rail to Symphony Station
10:30am Walk to Benaroya Hall
11:00am Pre-Concert Talk
12:00pm Seattle Symphony Concert (Rite of Spring!)
2:00pm Concert Ends/Walk to Pike Place for Lunch
4:00pm Back to Hotel
5:00pm Clinic with Marcus Tsutakawa @ TBD
7:00pm Evening plans TBD
Saturday • March 15, 2024
Travel: Seattle, WA to Bellingham, WA (Map) (88 miles)
Hotel: Embassy Suites Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square, 255 South King Street, Seattle, Washington, 98104, USA
Meals: Free Breakfast at the hotel, lunch & dinner TBA ($)
TBDam Wake Up Call. Breakfast (Provided in the lobby). Everyone must come down to eat!
TBDam Meet in the lobby.
Be dressed in concert attire with instruments.
Bring a change of clothes for after the performance.
TBDam Depart for Bellingham/Western Washington University
TBDam Arrive at Western Washington University.
All day at the festival, including performances.
TBDpm Depart WWU.
TBDpm Dinner and evening plans TBD
TBDpm Room Check
TBDpm Lights Out
Sunday • March 16, 2025
Travel: In Seattle all day!
Hotel: Embassy Suites Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square, 255 South King Street, Seattle, Washington, 98104, USA
Meals: Free Breakfast at the hotel, lunch at Buca di Beppo (Included), dinner on your own at Pike Place or Westlake Center ($). ($35-$40 needed).
7:30am Wake Up Call/Breakfast (Free at hotel)
9:00am Meet at Hotel Lobby
9:15am Take Light Rail/Monorail to Seattle Center
10:00am Arrive at Museum of Pop Culture (Admission included).
11:45am Walk to Buca di Beppo
12:00pm Lunch at Buca di Beppo (included).
1:15pm Walk back to Space Needle
1:45pm Go up in Space Needle
3:15pm Ride Seattle Monorail to West Lake Center.
3:30pm Free Time in Seattle. Free Time Boundaries: Virginia Street to the Northwest; 5th Avenue to the Northeast; University Street to the Southwest; and Puget Sound waterfront to the Southwest. Make sure you explore the following areas:
West Lake Center (this is where we will start)
Pike Place Market (Guide Map). Plan to spend lots of time here exploring all the levels!
Seattle Aquarium (Waterfront Pier 59)
Pier 57: Seattle Great Wheel & Miner’s Landing, Wings Over Washington (like Soarin’ @ California Adventure)
and more!
5:00pm Dinner on your own ($)
6:30pm Meet at Victor Steinbrueck Park (Map) to walk to Light Rail Station
7:00pm Take Light Rail back to Hotel. Free time at hotel.
9:30pm Room Check. Pre-Pack your room.
11:00pm Lights Out
Monday • March 17, 2025
Travel: Flight from Seattle, WA to Fresno, CA (via Las Vegas) (Map)
Meals: Breakfast free at hotel. Lunch in Las Vegas ($). Southwest Airlines offers free soft drinks, juice, coffee, and snacks on their flights.
Morning Breakfast/Check Out
6:30am Wake Up Call. Pack up room.
7:00am Everyone eats breakfast
7:45am Room Check
8:00am Walk to Light Rail Station
8:15am Take Light Rail to Sea-Tac Airport
9:00am Arrive at Seattle Airport/Check Baggage & Cellos
10:55am Everyone at Departure Gate.
11:05am Board Flight #2717 for Las Vegas. Southwest Airlines offers free soft drinks, juice, coffee, and snacks on their flights.
11:35am Flight #2717 departs.
2:05pm Arrive in Las Vegas/Lunch on your own ($)
3:45pm Everyone at Departure Gate.
3:55pm Board Flight #2149 for Fresno.
4:25pm Flight #2149 departs
5:50pm Land in Fresno
6:10pm Get luggage and instruments.
~6:30pm Picked up at Fresno Airport by parents.
