When band director Randy Hoepker first brought up using the band’s semi-annual large trip to visit Japan, he recalls his students taking the idea as a complete joke. Over a year later, Hoepker and the band are preparing for a band trip across the world.

“I think they were in disbelief we were doing anything like this,” Hoepker said.

Two years ago Hoepker was invited to be a guest director at Hoover’s sister school in Kofu, Japan, and considered the idea of returning with his students. The idea officially became an effort on the part of the band in November 2008.

Freshman Tyler Gilbreath was among the students who saw this idea as an inside joke from the director, and is now ecstatic for this trip.

“I’m really excited to do this, to go to Japan again and play music with my band,” Gilbreath said.

In total, the trip cost $135,000, which was paid for by numerous grants the band made and by students selling anything from sushi to candy to fruit.

The commission song is an original composition written for their performances and made by one of the musical writers for the movie Spirited Away.

As the band prepares for this trip to Kofu, Hoepker hopes they get everything out of it they can.

“The kids will have a great opportunity to travel and experience another country,” Hoepker said.