Seventy-two members of the Creston Community High School band climbed on board a bus June 10, made their way to Florida and performed in one of the premier parades at Disney World for an international audience before returning Sunday.
“I think I counted 200 cell phones before I gave up,” Band Director Mike Peters said, referring to spectators along the parade route taking photos and videos that would, most likely, later be posted on social media all over the world.
CCHS band has been going to Florida every four years since 2002.
All of the trips are different, Peters said. One of the more memorable aspects of this trip, however, was the crowd reaction.
There was a larger band from Texas also performing and he said, “One of the chaperones said it was like everyone’s head was on a wheel. They just turned. You could just see the look on their face of almost shock and awe of how big a sound we could produce.”
Other people, he said, didn’t realize they were listening to a high school band. Part of the parade route runs close to the Haunted Mansion.
“We’re doing a song called ‘Macabre’ that is kind of darker and sinister sounding,” he said. “One of the visitors was talking to one of our parents and they thought we were part of the professional performers. They didn’t realize we were a high school band marching through the park as part of the parade. They thought, because we were all in black and by the Haunted Mansion and playing this dark music, they thought we were part of the show. That’s never happened before. They thought we were part of Disney’s professional groups, which is a huge compliment because these people are professional musicians doing this type of thing.”
Only 5 percent of bands selected to play in Disney World are chosen to perform during a premier parade.
Peters organizes the trip to give his students the unique experience of auditioning and performing in front of an international audience.
“It’s putting your kids on a different level of performance. It’s one thing to do our little state and local things that we do, but to perform in front of people all over the world, it’s a different mindset,” Peters said. “We were in line with people from Ireland. I was talking to people from Denmark. I was talking to people from Alabama, Texas, California, West Virginia. People from all over the country and all over the world. You know there’s people from all over the world at these parks, and that’s not something you get at our local parade. There’s nothing wrong with our local parade. It’s wonderful and we get to perform for our people here, but they need to be able to know that there’s more out there that they can perform for and show their talents to.”
Part of performing in a Disney parade is seeing what happens behind the scenes. Performers see what audience members don’t – a staging area with trailers and garages where the floats are kept, and to preserve the “Disney magic,” cell phones and cameras are put away.
However, at some point guests can see the performers, Peters said. At that point there is a line painted across the road with a sign letting performers know guests can see them.
“At this point,” he added, “you’re a performer. It’s like a back stage area. Then, they announce you and, bam, you’re in costume and you’re a cast member and performer.”
Students who performed, even though school is out for the summer, went in and rehearsed every day the week before they left to make sure they were prepared to perform well, Peters said, and that many people don’t realize how hard they have worked for the opportunity.
“There’s no way my wife and I could do this by ourselves,” Peters said. “We had the greatest parents and chaperones that came along with us who paid their own way to help me out. Those chaperones were amazing. They worked their butts off. Every year they do and every year it’s amazing to watch how those parents step up, take time out of work to pay to go on this thing.”