School band performs at Disneyland

Wearing their black band T-shirts, instruments in hand, 45 advanced band members from Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park waited expectantly on the stage at a high school near Disneyland for the signal from their teacher and conductor, Elayne Roesner.

MUSICALLY MINDED—Advanced band members from Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park pose with the trophy they won at the Music in the Parks competition in Anaheim on May 21. From left, Keon Dorrani, Meghan Toomayan, Director Elayne Roesner, Ryan Darling, Kara Piastrelli and Rosie ZeollaRoesner lifted her arms and the students began playing a patriotic piece called “American Heroes March,” by Mark Williams. The judges in the audience turned on their recorders and began making comments.

The May 21 performance was part of a nationwide program called Music in the Parks (MIP). A combination of education and entertainment, the program gives elementary, middle and high school band, symphony and chorus students in 42 locations around the country, a chance to be critiqued on their playing abilities. Afterwards, students are rewarded with a trip to a local theme park. In this case, it was Disneyland.

The day culminated in an awards ceremony in Disneyland. The Medea Creek band received a rating of excellent with a score of 89, one point away from the superior score of 90.

The students took home a large trophy. Roesner was pleased with the band’s performance, especially because it was the first time the group had participated.

“If you noticed, I was smiling a lot during the performance because you were doing such a great job,” Roesner told the students afterwards.

She was especially pleased because it was only the second time that the group had played the pieces together. With a total of 52 students the band is so large that it is broken up into two class periods. The two halves of the band had only rehearsed together once for the performance.

“It was really nerve-racking but really exciting at the same time,” said Rosie Zeolla, 14, who plays the flute.

“It was great to be there.” Music in the Parks reaches about 48,000 students, according to Jim Hahn, MIP regional coordinator.

Bands receive feedback, ratings and scores on their performances. On this particular weekend, musical groups from Nevada, Michigan, Washington and California participated.

“The students represent themselves, their music programs, their schools and their communities, like ambassadors,” Hahn said.

Each group performs three pieces.

The first is a warm-up and is not judged. Roesner chose the second piece, “Eagle Crest” by James Swearingen, for its challenges, low section and dynamics. The third piece, “Fiero,” by Steve Hodges, was filled with rousing rhythms. That selection seemed to be a favorite with the band. They sang the tune several times on the bus ride to and from Anaheim.

“We tried to prepare so that these pieces would be really perfect, not just sounding good,” Roesner said.

For Roesner and this particular group, the day had special meaning.

These students have been with Roesner since she first joined Medea Creek’s faculty three years ago when the students were in sixth grade. Now as eighth-graders, they will leave Roesner and many will continue in the band at Oak Park High School under the direction of Brandon Young.

“They’ve been a great group. I’ve really enjoyed them and will miss them,” Roesner said.