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No. 15 Vol. 4
www.thehanovernews.com
April 2017
WPHS Band Members Enjoy Magical Time Performing In Disney World
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By Cheryl Conway rom the time they entered their private jet with the band’s logo on the back of every seat, to marching down Main Street with Mickey Mouse in Walt Disney World, band members of Whippany Park High School had an adventure of a lifetime. The WPHS Marching Band spent Thurs., March 9 to Sun., March 12 visiting Disney parks in Florida. The main purpose of their trip was to perform in the 6:30 p.m. parade down Main Street in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando on Fri., March 10. Taking students down to Disney to perform in the park’s parade has been a trip organized by the school’s band director every four years with the help of the community for the past two decades. “It’s something they will never forget,” says Carl Sabatino, WPHS Band director since 1989. A trip he has
taken his students on since 1997, Sabatino says “it’s educational for kids to go away, make decisions and learn about anything they don’t learn in the classroom. “Disney is magical,” says Sabatino. “Something about that mouse that everyone loves.” Not every high school band gets the opportunity to perform in the Disney World parade, and not just any parade but the evening parade. Sabatino says, “6:30 is their main stage.” He explains, “It’s an application process,” that starts in September. “Anyone who wants to perform can get an opportunity.” Applicants are requested to send in a video and picture of their band for selection. “We play music that’s entertaining and popular,” says Sabatino. “Plus we are big. We play popular music. We are a band favorite.” Another band from Texas was also selected to
perform that night as well. The WPHS marching band performed “Adventures of a Lifetime,” by Coldplay. “That was our performance,” 15 minutes from the beginning of the park to Frontier Land. The students played the song about seven or eight times during the parade, he estimates. To prepare, the band members started rehearsing their performance in January when they were handed the parade tune. “We went outside a couple times on the track in February,” says Sabatino, grateful for “some nice days” in winter. “It was a good solid two months of preparation.” This year, 90 percent, or 142 of the band members were able to attend, says Sabatino. Members pay their own way with support of the WPHS Band Parent’s Association, which contributed $175 per student. “It was a community
effort,” stresses Sabatino. “We go every four years,” so the association holds fundraisers to save up for the big trip to help offset costs. In addition to marching, band members visited a host of Disney Parks including Epcot Center, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach and got to see
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Cirque du Soleil in Disney Springs. Chaperoning the group are 18 adults made up of staff and parents. Two parents drive down the equipment and uniforms, adds Sabatino. “We went down by plane,” says Sabatino. “We chartered our own flight,” a big plane by Miami Airlines, he adds as it is next to impossible to book a flight for so many students. The best part was when the passengers entered the plane and saw their band’s circular logo on the head rest of every seat. “It was pretty cool,” says Sabatino. “They felt like rock stars.” Seeking this opportuni-
ty for his students for the past 20 years has been well worth the effort. “Watching the kids have that moment down there, watching them perform and have a good time,” explains Sabatino. It is “something they will never forget.” While performing in Disney World may stand out as the band’s highlight, Sabatino is proud of the group’s gold rating, received at the New Jersey Music Education Association Band Festival held in October 2016 at Wayne Hills High School, for its half time show performance. The band now looks forward to its spring concert set for May 9.