“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, Calif.

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 talked about the possibility of performing at Disneyland. The students and music director Pamela Wright began rehearsals in the fall, recorded their audition music in December, and were invited by Disneyland to perform this month.

“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 says the trip will involve education, performance and fun.

“The kids will be working hard in rehearsals and workshops at Disneyland, but they’ll also have some time to enjoy the park,” she said.

Orcas musicians will go behind-the-scenes of a production studio to see how movie soundtracks are recorded. They’ll also 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 is Leonard Bernstein’s “America” from “West Side Story,” music from the Walt Disney film “Brave,” and selections from “The Lion King.”

Students who will make the trip are Emilia Carter, Lisa Carter, Michael Harlow, Anthony Kaskurs, Wylie Kau, Enzo Thixton, Emily Toombs, Zach Waage, Paris Wilson – and from the High School Band, percussionist Jo Gudgell. Wright and parent 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 students will be traveling with the Sedro-Woolley High School string students who have made this trip before.