Choir will be in Florida competing in Festival Disney from April 23 to 27, and band is leaving on April 22 and also returning April 27.

“We are going to have fun, but there is also a competition,” choir member junior Donald Fielding said. “We really want to win.”

The competition is very similar to normal University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions, but it is not as prestigious as UIL, which is a state competition, whereas Festival Disney involves bands and choirs from around the United States competing.

“We get the UIL rankings, one through five,” Fielding said. “Then the highest scoring choirs get trophies. Mickey trophies.”

The choir goes to compete in the competition at Disney World every other year.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Fielding said. “We also get to visit Universal Studios. I’m excited for Harry Potter World.”

Band competes in the Festival Disney competition every other year as well.

“We’re playing at a similar competition,” band member senior Hanna Mollhoff said. “But we also do something cool. Somewhere in the Disney Park, they will show a clip from a Disney movie, and we get to play the music that goes along with it. I think I’m most excited for that.”

Both band and choir will be traveling by plane to Florida when in the past, they normally go to competitions on buses.

“There are about 150 people in the band that are going,” Mollhoff said, “so we’re going to be split up on two different planes rather than having to pay to rent out an entire plane.”

After the competition, both organizations get free time to be able to explore the park, ride rides and play games.

“I want to ride Expedition Everest,” Mollhoff said. “Harry Potter World will also be cool.”

In order to prepare for competition, both groups must practice music to be performed at the competition.

“I’m excited yet nervous,” choir member senior Adam Woodward said. “The music we have to learn for the competition is pretty complicated.”

Although there is a lot of excitement and anticipation regarding the trip, band and choir will be missing numerous school days to be able to compete in Festival Disney.

“I’m thrilled to go,” Mollhoff said. “I’m just concerned about the makeup work I’ll have to do when I get back.”