Willoughby-Eastlake Schools band members are traveling to Disney

By Patricia Nugent

“Music education should not be a privilege for a lucky few, it should be a part of every child’s world of possibility,” —Hillary Rodham Clinton

The students, families and boosters at Eastlake North High School believe in working hard to broaden their world of possibility. Next March they’ll make a splash on the national stage with a magical trip to Disney World in Orlando. Throughout the year, they’ve been fundraising by throwing car washes, working on the Game Show Night, selling candy bars and key cards, as well as running the visiting concessions stand at home football games.

The band will take part in the Magic Kingdom Parade, marching its way down Main Street, with the picturesque Cinderella’s Castle in the background.

“Going to Disney provides the students with an experience of performing for a crowd that is not their hometown crowd,” says Scott Sell, who is director of bands for North. “Performing for this unassuming audience comes with a unique expectation and stretches the band to perform at its highest level.”

He reports that the 85 members of the Ranger marching band include two field commanders, 68 instrumentalists and 15 members of the color guard.

“We specifically make this trip once every four years, so that every band student has an opportunity to go once during their high school career,” he says. “On the docket for our performances is a song from our ‘80s-themed halftime show, as well as the North High School fight song and drum cadences.”

Crowds are accustomed to cheering on this amazing band at Rangers football games, as well as other events throughout the year, including Lake Erie Captains games, Lake Erie Monsters games and the Lake County Music Education Band Invitational.

Look for these monthly stories to cover topics from grades K-12 in the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools System. Find out more at WESchools.org.