They’re Going to Disneyland!

High School Strings Students will Depart on May 16

— from Kristen Wilson —

This is the group that is going to Disneyland:
Back row, from left: Strings Director Pamela Wright, parent chaperone Mary Clure, Lisa Carter, Jo Gudgell, Paris Wilson, Emily Toombs and Emy Carter
Front row: Michael Harlow, Zach Waage, Anthony Kaskurs, Wylie Kau, Enzo Thixton and Band Director Darren Dix.

“We are going and we are so excited!” That pretty much sums up the feelings of Orcas High School musicians on the eve of their performance trip to Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California.

After dreaming and planning for more than a year, the Orcas High School Strings (plus one percussionist) will be making their trip to perform onstage at Disneyland from May 16 to 21. It was in January 2013, after the Orcas High School Strings’ outstanding performance at a Northwest Washington contest that they first started talking about the possibility of performing at Disneyland. The students and Music Director Pamela Wright began rehearsals in the fall, recorded their audition music for the trip in December, and were eventually invited by Disneyland to perform this month.

“The Disneyland performance and workshop represent a recognition of the achievements of our musicians and our growth as an ensemble,” said Wright, “but we wouldn’t be making this trip without the support of the community.”

“The Music Advocacy Group stepped up to the plate right away with a $2,000 matching grant,” said Wright, “and then gave an additional $750 to make the trip happen for students who couldn’t afford to pay more money.”

Wright said that many people helped the students make this trip including: Doug Bechtal, Carl de Boor and Helen Bee, Hilary Canty, Harold and Martha Clure, Betty Corbett, Kristien and Jerry Davidson, Tom Felber, Leslie and John Ginnes, Rick and Cindi Gould and The Gould Family Foundation, Sara and Jim Hennessey, Linda Henry and Pam Lowe, Peggy Hoyle, Artha Kass, Louellen McCoy, Pat Muffet, Michael Murray, Coleen O’Brien, the parents of all the musicians, Victoria Parker, Blythe Simpson, Patricia Slabaugh, Lynsey Smith, Ken and Karen Speck, Dick and Kathy Staub, and everyone who attended the fundraising dinner and concert on February 11 at The Community Church.

Many organizations contributed their support as well, including The Community Church, Darvill’s Bookstore, The Islands’ Sounder, The Music Advocacy Group, The Olga Symphony, Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, The Orcas Island Education Foundation, Orcas Island Realty, and Orcas Issues. “This trip is truly a community effort and we have so many people to thank,” added Wright.

“The trip will involve education, performance and fun,” said Wright. “The kids will be working hard in rehearsals and workshops at Disneyland, but they’ll also have some time to enjoy the park.” Orcas musicians will go behind-the-scenes of a production studio to see how soundtracks are recorded for the movies. In addition, they’ll have the chance to record their own music and see it synced up with a Disney movie. Some of the music the students have prepared includes Leonard Bernstein’s America from West Side Story, music from the Walt Disney film Brave, selections from The Lion King, the main theme from The Incredibles and selections from Pirates of the Caribbean; Dead Man’s Chest.

Orcas students who will make the trip are strings players Emilia Carter, Lisa Carter, Michael Harlow, Anthony Kaskurs, Wylie Kau, Enzo Thixton, Emily Toombs, Zach Waage, Paris Wilson – and from the H.S. Band, percussionist Jo Gudgell. Pamela Wright and parent chaperone Mary Clure will be accompanying the students along with Darren Dix, Orcas School Band Director. Dix once made the same trip as a high school student and enjoyed it so much he’s going back again as a teacher.

The Orcas High School Strings were awarded the top place among all large string ensembles performing at the San Juan Music Educators Association(SJMEA) Contest in Bellingham in January and received the highest overall rating among all groups participating at the SJMEA Large Groups Orchestra Contest at Western Washington University in March.

The Orcas students will be traveling with the Sedro-Woolley High School string students who have made this trip before. Students from each school have traveled back and forth in recent works to rehearse together for their performances.