Disney Under The Stars

The 2022-2023 school year is already presenting itself as an exciting opportunity for the music department, with a 5-day trip to Disney World lined up to fill the Memorial Day weekend. With Covid being an avid and capricarious force for the past two years, this trip had to be put on the backburners as of 2020. Yet, the substantial decrease of concern regarding the virus and its effects is now finally allowing this biennial Madison tradition to re-blossom this spring. Throughout the duration of the trip, all musically-involved students will gain hands-on experience in workshops tailored to their performance groups and participate in several performance events.
However, with such an exorbitant trip as Disney being in the near future, fundraising becomes an essential component for lowering costs and aptly making the field trip affordable for all students. As part of this fight against the criminally capitalist mob that is rising Disney costs, the Madison Music Program held an outdoor, evening concert, labeled as “Disney Under The Stars,” taking place in the central courtyard of the school. Throughout the night, audience members were entertained with various familiar Disney tunes and medleys, featuring performances from the chorus, jazz chorus, orchestra, and band. Accompanying the musical performances, student-made Disney movie compilations were also projected on the walls of the courtyard.
The event proved to be a successful endeavor, with practically a sea of parents and families joining together to enjoy the evening. As a performer in the chorus, I can wholeheartedly testify that the bands’ Disney medley, with songs ranging from Frozen to The Little Mermaid was basically bowed down to as the magnum opus of the night. Legitimately, whatever integrity it took for those around me not to burst into song alongside the music was about as existent as a cheap Disney trip. However, the combined orchestra and band rendition of the Star Wars theme with the string instruments mimicking lightsabers with colored fairy lights tied to their bows definitely gave it a run for its money….literally. Those yellow donation bins were overflowing by the end of the night. Being a member of the chorus, was singing out in the cold, dark October weather, surrounded by millennial-level Disney obsessed children the most ideal situation? Maybe not. But at the same time, it’s those very aspects that make nights like these fun and raising just about four thousand dollars for our Disney fund is also very fun.
If you were unable to make the date, there are still several opportunities to support the music department to reach their Disney destination, as additional fundraisers are scheduled to be scattered throughout the year leading up to the trip. One current fundraising event in particular is the Gertrude Hawk Chocolate sale in which you can buy an array of sweets ranging from gummy worms to caramel-filled chocolates. If interested, be sure to make a purchase before November 7th to help out our fellow musical Dodgers!