The N.S.U. Middle Lab School Orchestra competed at Festival Disney in Orlando Florida on April 8-12. Festival Disney is the premiere international music festival where fifty orchestras, bands and choirs performed with hopes of winning one of the coveted Mickey Mouse trophies. The Middle Lab Orchestra consisted of 75 string orchestra members from grades six through eight grades.
They were accompanied by 174 chaperones, siblings, grandparents and Lab School Orchestra Director Katrice LaCour. The group performed at the Ballroom of the Americas at the Disney’s Contemporary Resort and evaluated by three adjudicators. The panel consisted of Dr. Douglas Droste, Director of Orchestral Studies at Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music; Allen Gray, an Instrumental Teaching Artist for Disney Imagination Campus with over 20 years of experience developing workshop curriculum; and Dr. LaToya A. Webb, who serves as Visiting Director of Bands at Ball State University where she leads the wind ensemble and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting courses.
Three types of awards were presented at the awards ceremony in the Indiana Jones theater. The Festival Disney award is presented to ensembles receiving a Superior (90-100%) or Excellent rating (80-89%). Best in Class is presented to the highest rated ensemble within their division. Festival Disney Gold, Silver and Bronze awards are presented to the three highest superior-rated ensembles. The NSU Middle Lab Orchestra received a festival Disney Superior Award for a score of 95.7%. The Orchestra was then awarded Best in Class for the highest score in its division. Finally, the group was awarded the Gold Mickey Mouse Award for the highest score overall.
The Orchestra received the Golden Mickey on its last two visits completing the “threepeat.”
LaCour would like to invite everyone to Magale Recital Hall to hear this award-winning group on Thursday, May 14 starting at 5:30 pm.
