Disney Trip: a Dream Come True
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Vol. XIII Issue 3 Harrison High School May 2009 Disney Trip: A Dream Come True Jessica Peña Music Editor Sadly, there were no Miley Cyrus feelings about the trip: “We’re going scheduled for the festival, it was time interesting challenge of handling this sightings, but Harrison High School did to Disney!” to perfect their marching and vocals, enormous student group going to Dis- win plenty of awards. After winning What is better than spending a in order to try to take down as many ney. Dr. Pasqua said that this festival several awards at last year’s Heritage few days with your friends at Disney? awards as possible. The chorus joined was his favorite: “Everything that takes Music Festival in the hometown of Perhaps nothing short of getting ac- the band for the second consecutive place is magical!” country music, Nashville, Tennessee, cepted at your college of choice might year on its annual festival trip. Mr. Briem said the best thing and after performing at Lincoln Center be better, but it wasn’t all rest and “The chorus and I were very about being in Disney was getting (one of the three campuses of Fordham relaxation. The band and chorus had excited to travel with the band again,” the opportunity to perform on a world University), the Harrison High School to do some serious preparation before said Lynn Fusco, faculty leader of the stage. Marching Band and Chorus took on this trip. They spent days rehearsing HHS chorus. “We are looking forward “We get to play for thousands their toughest challenge yet. This time and practicing their music and march- to represent the Harrison High School of people who travel from all over the it was the challenge of Mickey Mouse world, who have arrived with high ex- and his gang, the Princesses and their pectations, and don’t know who we are Prince Charmings and the horrible and or even that we will be there,” said Mr. terrible villains of Disney. Briem. “We get to be part of a memory For a few days, the band and that will last a lifetime. Now that’s a the chorus flew down to Orlando to performance!” participate in the Magic Music Days At Disney, the fun started at 6 Festival at Disney World. The Harrison a.m. Tuesday and continued on from High School Band, majorettes, and there. The first adventure that both stu- color guard marched down Main Street, dent groups took was chilling out and while the chorus participated in its own getting wet at Blizzard Beach. choir showdown on a world stage. “It was a great time,” said sopho- “This is the largest group,” says more Joe Pepe. However, many kids Rose DiFazio, a member of the Uniform forgot to put on sunscreen, leading to Committee and mother of Sophomore an unpleasant sunburn and accompa- Class President, Adrianna DiFazio, nying pain. After checking into hotel and former Drum Majors Louis and rooms and getting settled in, the two Stephanie DiFazio. Indeed it was – so groups went to Planet Hollywood for large a group that the chorus and band dinner. members boarded on two separate “It was an amazing place,” said planes. One plane boarded more than freshman Paul Park. 85 students, the other boarded another “One of the nights was a lot of hundred. The HHS Band marches down Main Street USA. Courtesy of Gary Morgen fun,” said senior Sean Neu. “We also “We were excited to go to Dis- got lost at the All Star Music Hotel with ney,” said Nancy Vernali, another ing, thanks to the special talents of and performing on a world stage.” Bert, Katie, and Gina.” member of the Uniform Committee. Mr. Nichol (Cable TV Club) who vid- After winning silver at the Heri- The next day was a work day for Students such as juniors Marina An- eotaped the band marching and the tage Musical Festival last year, the cho- everyone. The visual group had their drade (band member) and Yasunori choir singing. rus hoped for more accolades this year. workshop at Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Miyajima (band and chorus member) The band also did their usual Some of the chorus also are members main area for auditioning. shared in this excitement. fundraiser, the Band-a-Thon. The en- of the band, and pulled double duty on “The workshop was interesting “This is where the magic hap- tire band, color guard, and majorettes their festival schedules. Students from because the majorettes got to experi- pens,” said Marina, who was accom- got the opportunity to participate in the the first plane arrived at the school at ence something new,” said Dom Cuce, panied by her sister on the trip, making fundraiser, which included music from 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18, majorette, who got to learn flag routines it an Andrade sister getaway. Yasu, alums and local garage bands. Accord- and left on their flight to Orlando at 7 to the song “You’ll Be In My Heart” from on the other hand, said that he’s been ing to Tamie Miyajima, another member a.m., while the second group of stu- Tarzan. waiting all his life for this trip, and many of the Uniform Committee and Yasu’s dents arriving a few hours later. During the saber routine to Alad- seniors agreed. Senior Katie Markowitz mother, everyone did a great job. Dr. Fred Pasqua, Mr. Charles din, the majorettes and color guard got had only four words to express her Once the band and chorus were Briem, and Ms. Lynn Fusco had the an unexpected visit from Goofy. (Continued on Page 2) The HHS Band poses in front of Epcot. Courtesy of Gary Morgen Magic Music Days At Disney (Continued from Front Page) “I cried when I saw him,” said “Our performance this time was and it helped us work on our sight junior color guard member Jen Par- spectacular and some may even say reading,” said Judy Florio. The cho- ravani. it was magical,” said Dr. Pasqua. After rus got to do The Lion King for their The band also got a chance to the very short march, the crew from workshop. They got to do a melody Seuss Landing. At Marvel Super Hero help out with the Tarzan and Aladdin HHS went backstage to change into for one of the songs and watched how Island, the two biggest rides were the routines. For Tarzan, Dr. Pasqua and “summer” clothes. While backstage, it came to life on the big screen, when Hulk roller coaster, which many waited Ms. Fusco needed special effects artists did their magic. an hour to ride, but it was worth it. to assist the band Meanwhile the other people at Many headed toward Toon La- in making animal M-G-M spent their time screaming on goon, where several band and chorus sounds. Word on rides such as the “Drop Down Elevator” students got soaked. By the end of the street is that Ms. and the Tower of Terror, the inspiration the day, the group dried off and many Fusco does a mean for a Disney movie in the early ‘90s, headed off to see Sinbad’s Show. The “elephant” sound. starring Kirsten Dunst. The pictures show was good, but short. “It was hyster- that were taken say it all. Another On the last day of the trip was ical,” said freshman screaming attraction was the famous spent at Disney’s Epcot. “It was an Rachel Ostreicher, Aerosmith’s Rock N’ Roller Coaster, amazing way to end senior year,” said who thought it was an inside roller coaster which features Brittany O’Donnell, who got a picture an experience of a songs from the band. “It was mind with Princess Aurora along with her lifetime. However, it blowing,” said color guard captain and friend Katherine Yootidies, which was was a dream come senior Brittany O’Donnell. “However, it a dream come true (since they had true for flutist Fa- was a short ride.” been those characters this past Hal- biel Jean-Philippe The Chorus performs in downtown Disney. Courtesy of Gary Morgen On Friday, the entire group head- loween). because Aladdin is ed down to the Magic Kingdom, where They weren’t the only ones who her favorite Disney movie. Not only many from the band met Disney char- many of the students took pictures with got pictures with Disney Characters. did she get to play music from the acters such as Snow White and a few lovable Disney characters such as Al- Junior Richard Song got a picture movie, but she also got to meet and random Princes. The students were ice (Alice in Wonderland), chipmunks with Stitch from Lilo and Stitch. Stitch take a picture with Princess Jasmine given free book packs and a trophy Chip and Dale, Pluto, and Rafiki (the pointed out Richard’s pink shirt under- and Prince Aladdin at Magic Kingdom for the Harrison High School Band’s crazy baboon from The Lion King). neath his white shirt and laughed at the very next day. “It was the best part participation in Disney’s Magic Music Junior Tijana Maletic got her dream him. Richard said, “Hey, it’s just guy in about this trip,” Fabiel said. Days Festival. Not only that, but some fulfilled when she got an autograph a suit.” Taking no offense, he headed After those two workshops, it band members also made the acquain- was time to march down Main Street tance of marching band members from at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. other schools. “It was exhilarating,” said sopho- Next up on the busy schedule more Emma Kate Lindsay, “especially was a visit to the M-G-M Park or Holly- when we got cheered.” wood Studios, which the chorus missed The band and visual group ner- out on, since their workshop occurred vous about marching at Disney, but then.