Warren Twp. band lands fourth Disney World gig
Warren Township High School's Marching Blue Devils plan to electrify a crowd at one of the country's top vacation destinations Sunday night.
More than 170 members of the Gurnee school's band will be part of Walt Disney World's SpectroMagic Parade in Orlando, Fla. One of the final practices for the trip was Monday evening in the O'Plaine Road campus gymnasium.
Warren District 121's band members will march down Main Street USA for the nighttime event that includes floats and illuminated Disney characters. The teenagers' theme for the night will be "A Salute to America."
Disney World boasts of having at least a half-million lights and reams of fiber optic cables for the extravaganza. The SpectroMagic Parade, formerly known as the Electric Light Parade, is such an event that Disney World even provides tips on the best viewing areas in the park.
At Monday night's practice, the Marching Blue Devils took up about half of the O'Plaine campus gymnasium. Band director Chris Jenkins led the band members and color guard through their paces.
District 121 spokeswoman Carolyn Waller said students in all Warren bands were eligible to be in the Marching Blue Devils parade show. Warren has more than 350 students in a program that includes five concert bands, the Marching Blue Devils, steel drum band, chamber ensembles and jazz combos.
Sunday will be the fourth time the Marching Blue Devils play at Disney World, which requires an audition CD and video. Waller said trips have occurred every fourth year so as many students as possible could participate.
Waller said the trip to Orlando was optional and all students had to raise their own money to cover their costs.