Page 104 - 2012.Millard.North

by Ariel Doyle
Parents and friends packed the auditorium, anxiously await-
ing an orchestra performance. But instead of students outfitted

in normal concert attire, the stage was filled up with famous
Disney characters such as Mulan and Mickey Mouse. After they
had gotten done performing, the students played It's A Small
World Aftera/1 while kids who dressed up in costumes marched
across the stage.

"Before we learn to play the songs with the bows, we pluck
the strings," Orchestra Director Debbie Martinez said. "When
the students started to play [It's A Small World Afteral~, it
sounded really cute. I mentioned the idea for kids to walk

across the stage and the students thought it would be cute. It
was also a cool way to reach out to the community and get the
younger kids involved."
Students spread the word that younger kids could participate
in a 'Prince and Princess' parade while dressed up as their

favorite Disney characters. When it came time for the actual
concert, Martinez invited the kids to march across te stage in
their costumes. As the students started to play the song, the

kids dazzled the stage with their Sleeping Beauty dresses and
little green aliens from Toy Story.
"It was adorable to see everyone's little brothers and sisters
dressed up in costume. The kid dressed up as dinosaur was
the best though," junior Yasmeen Bora said.

For freshman Johanna Mezger, It's A Small World After All
was more than just seeing the kids cross the stage. It was also
about playing the backround music.

"It was so cute to see all the kids dress up, but it was just a
really, really long song to perform. It was also really obnoxious
to play over and over again," Mezger said.
As the last notes were plucked, the sound of clapping filled
the air as the kids ran back to their seats and listened to the

rest of the orchestra kids to continue the Disney magic. lBiila. -
Senior Catherine Nguyen performs a solo in the'
Americana themed orchestra concert on September 271
"Whenever I have a solo in a song, I try to not overthink
Orchestra students it before I perform so I can play steady," Nguyen said,
photo by Hannah Fisk

performed Disney songs at

the winter concert.