After three years of ceaseless hard work, Parkland Secondary School’s concert and jazz bands are within inches of their fundraising goal for their trip to California this spring, but they still need a little help from the community.
To that end, band leader Cristina Sousa and the bands are putting on Dreamin’ Disney next Friday (March 27) at St. Paul’s Church, featuring the musicians collectively, as well as featuring a select few of the students as soloists or in small groups.
Audience members will be tempted to hum along with animated favourites like Just Can’t Wait To Be King from The Lion King, highlights from Aladdin and Frozen, the Beauty and the Beast theme and the Dead Man’s Chest medley from Pirates of the Caribbean.
The band hopes the show will cover the last of their expenses for this once in a (school) lifetime trip.
“We’ve been fundraising for this trip since all of these kids were in Grade 9,” says Sousa. “It’s been a long time coming.”
The group of 32 students will travel to Anaheim next month for the musical enrichment portion of their trip, and while there, the students will perform for the University of California’s director of music.
They’ll also have the unique opportunity to participate in a soundtrack session.
“It’s a cool sight reading experience,” says Sousa.
The kids get a piece of music, and then have to play while watching a short film, she explains.
“It’s a great opportunity, and they get a chance to see how movie music works.”
“And then they get to go to Disneyland, and who doesn’t want to go to Disneyland?” she says with a laugh.
It’s a well-earned reward for years of effort.
“This group is filled with talented and dedicated kids,” says Sousa. “They’ve been working so hard for the last three years, and I can’t think of a more deserving bunch.”
Tickets are $10, and are available from St. Paul’s Church in advance or from band students. Limited tickets may be available at the door. Refreshments by donation.
The facility is wheelchair accessible with ample parking.
For more information, email stpauluc@stpauluc.com or call 250-656-3213.