ANAHEIM, CA - Both parks at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim were over run by Stallions from the Madera South High School Music Department last week. The concert choir and jazz band were invited to participate in the Disney Performing Arts concerts which are a part of the Disney Youth Programs.
These year-round programs give schools from all over the country a chance to perform on the main stages at both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure for the park's guests. Following their performances the groups take part in a workshop backstage at Disneyland.
Thursday afternoon the Madera South Concert Choir caped off a day of youth performances on the stage on the California Adventure Hollywood Back Lot. Choir director Roger Harabedian and his group of 35 high school singers took the stage to perform the six songs they have been rehearsing for the last four months. They finished off their set with 'Fight Song' and 'Stronger' which, last week at their performance at Valley Children's Hospital, didn't leave a dry eye in the audience.
The next morning the Madera South Jazz Band at the direction of Jay Rossette took the Fantasy Land Stage that hosts none other than Mickey Mouse during the afternoons and evening shows to perform six of their own songs. Three of their songs featured Madera South Freshman Aunika Bull on vocals. Bull also performed with the choir the day before.
Following the performance of the choir, the group attended a workshop teaching the kids about how a soundtrack goes together with Disney films and attractions around the park. Through artistic sound analysis, a musical scavenger hunt throughout the Disneyland Park, and a creative review of the hunt's results, students gain a hands-on understanding of how music can create emotion, atmospheric tone and a vivid sense of time and place.
Disney Performing Arts Workshops fulfill many of the standards set forth in the National Core Arts Standards in which students create, perform, respond, and connect thru the practice of artistic processes.
The program offers experiences suitable for all proficiency levels in four disciplines including: vocal, theatre, dance and instrumental. Since Disney Performing Arts was launched, more than 50,000 groups from every state in America and six different continents have participated in the program.
Both groups were able to attend the workshops and perform for the Disneyland park's guests because of successful fundraising efforts here at home. So when you are asked to buy a tub of cookie dough or buy a ticket to a performance, remember you are not just sending a youngster on a fun field trip. You are helping to support the development of the arts in Madera. These are opportunities that none of these kids will ever forget and the Madera community thanks you for it.
