Submitted by Mary Wachter.

Thirteen of the Orcas High School Band and Strings students and their directors are excited and looking forward to a once in a lifetime opportunity this spring.

The students will take a trip all the way to Disneyland to play and record in the studio where Disney scores are produced. In addition to experiencing the fun of Disney, they will work with a Disney conductor to sight-read and record actual film score excerpts. After several takes and with the guidance of the pros, they will be able to see how their hard work pays off and listen to their recordings as they watch the corresponding film footage. What a cool way to expand our students’ horizons and give them big dreams to reach for with their talent and skills as musicians!

Orcas music students have made this trek to Disney twice before, in 2014 and 2016. It has been a successful partnership with the Sedro-Wooley music program, and Orcas teachers and parents are devoted to seeing this year’s trip succeed. We need your help!

Several fundraising events will be taking place in the next month that you, our community, have the opportunity to support. These include bake sales on Feb. 16, and Feb. 23 and a Pancake Breakfast Concert and Auction on Feb. 8 at the Community Church. In addition, if you would like to hire a group of student musicians to perform for your guests or to do chores, contact Mary Wachter at missmarysisland@gmail.com. To buy tickets for our Pancake Breakfast or to sponsor a student musician, email ddix@orcas.k12.wa.usor pwright@orcas.k12.wa.us. For a good time, attend the Orcas home basketball games on Jan. 24 to “Pay to Pie the Teacher.” Mr. Dix and Mrs. Wright, our devoted band and strings instructors, will be putting their faces in the line of pie fire for the highest donations, all of which will support the trip to Disney this spring.

To donate to this fundraising effort, go to Facebook GoFundMe, “OIHS Band and Strings Disney Fundraising.” Thank you so much for your support of our high school musicians!!