On Thursday, April 11th, 140 members of the Calhoun High School Concert Choir, Show Choir, and Wind Ensemble travelled to Orlando, Florida, to take part in the prestigious four day Festival Disney National Music Competition. The competition brought seventy-six music groups from schools across the country to Orlando.
At the competition, the Calhoun music groups excelled. The Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Edward Tumminelli, placed 4th in their category with an Excellent Performance Rating. Tumminelli commented on the results, “This was the highest numerical score at Festival Disney that the Wind Ensemble has ever achieved. The students have worked incredibly hard this year, and are especially proud of the accomplishment.”
While in Florida, the band also took part in the Disney Performing Arts Film-Scoring Workshop, giving the students an opportunity to work with industry professionals in a full recording studio.
On the choral side of the competition, the Calhoun Concert Choir, under the direction of Sanford Sardo, won the Mixed Choir Class AAA Category, taking home their first ever national championship “Best in Class” trophy, with a Superior Performance Rating. In addition, Calhoun senior Ian Silverman was awarded the competition’s Outstanding Vocal Soloist trophy.
Crescendo won the overall Show Choir category, taking home their second-ever national championship “Best in Class” trophy, also with a Superior Performance Rating. In addition, Crescendo was awarded the prestigious Gold Mickey Award, for highest scoring Specialty Choir of any category at the festival.
While in Orlando, both choral groups also took part in the Disney Performing Arts: OnStage Music Festival, performing a 30-minute concert at Downtown Disney for hundreds of Disney guests. Sardo noted, “This was a great opportunity for the students to experience what it’s like to be a Disney Performer. The groups fed off the energy of the audience; it was electric!”
The students returned to Calhoun on the evening of Sunday, April 14th, having once again represented their school with flying colors. All three groups, along with several other choral and instrumental groups, will now set their sights on Calhoun’s Blue-Grey Spring Music Festival, to be held on Tuesday, April 30th and Thursday, May 2nd, beginning at 7:30pm. For the line-up of each concert, please visit the Blue Concert and Grey Concert listings in the Merrick Patch Events Calendar.
