By: Fuyu Bano and Sahil Muthukrishnan

Graphics and Culture Editors

The LGHS Music Department recently took nearly 200 of its students on a trip to Anaheim, California, where they performed at Disneyland. The department brought groups from each branch: choir, band, and orchestra. Students experienced once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, like going backstage to make studio recordings of Disney franchise staples such as The Muppets and The Incredibles with a professional coach.

Instrumentalists are typically separated by grades and skill levels during the school year. In contrast, the Disneyland trip provided each student with a chance to perform with their entire ensemble. Furthermore, the weekend of fun and memories allowed students to hang out with their peers from the department’s other groups. 

The trip started off on Feb. 27, when the students drove to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where they toured the campus and workshopped their pieces with the university’s acclaimed music staff. Junior Kay Clevenger, a choir student, remarked, “I really enjoyed the clinic. [The clinician] gave lots of meaningful advice. Even if he was overly blunt at times, he clearly knew what he was talking about.” After their stop at UCLA, the students drove down to Anaheim, where they enjoyed dinner at Downtown Disney. Senior Nicolas Deschaux-Beaume, another choir student, commented, “The food was a little pricey, but pretty good overall, and we were pretty tired and hungry at that point. Getting to be at Disney made the wait worth it, though.”

Students arrived at the recording studio early in the morning to participate in an exceptional opportunity: each ensemble worked with a clinician to record parts of Disney soundtracks alongside the actual Disney footage. More specifically, the band, as well as the orchestra, recorded background instrumentals for movies such as A Bug’s Life in a semi-professional setting to mimic the actual recording process for movie soundtracks. Similarly, the choir recorded alongside movies such as The Muppets and Tangled. Clevenger mentioned, “It was really cool to work with the coach; he was really sweet and made it a really fun experience for us.”

Afterward, students were able to explore Disneyland and California Adventure in full. Many stayed until closing, maximizing the amount of time enjoying rides, eating food, and playing charades with friends as they waited in line. On their final day in the park, students performed for crowds in California Adventure, getting to show off their multiple months of hard work. The trip was a blast for many students, regardless of ensemble. Orchestra student and junior, Nolan Lin, looked back on his experience on the trip: “You get to hang out with your friends and get to know people better, and go away from your devices. [Also] It was fun to play with every orchestra, not just your own.”

The musical escapade allowed students to hone their music skills with gifted mentors, play with their peers, and create lifelong memories at the “Happiest Place on Earth.” The musical program continues to unlock opportunities for its students to grow.