(Photos courtesy Denny/Sealth music programs)
The “Happiest Place on Earth” must have been the “Most Melodic Place on Earth” last weekend – and student musicians from Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School were part of it. Denny’s principal Jeff Clark forwarded this detailed report about their big trip to Southern California:

Congratulations are in order for the students of the Chief Sealth International High School Concert- Marching Band and Sealth Jazz II as well as the Denny International Middle School Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Orchestra, who traveled to Anaheim, California, this past weekend to participate in the Disney Magic Music Days and Music in the Parks Festivals.

At the Saturday Music in the Parks competition, the Sealth Concert Band earned a rating of Superior, the highest rating possible, and the 1st place trophy in the high school band AA division. The band had perfect scores in rhythm and technique and a near-perfect score in tone quality. One judge commented, “Fine reputation of school and community.” The Denny String Orchestra, Denny Marching Band, and Denny jazz ensembles earned ratings of Excellent, as well as the 1st place trophies in their respective divisions.

On Sunday morning, the Denny Orchestra participated in a Soundtrack recording session at the Disney Magic Music Days sound studio in which they recorded music to Disney animation. Still later day the Denny marching band kicked off the afternoon Disney Main St. Parade with a pre-parade march through the park, followed by Sealth being similarly honored as the featured band for kicking off the evening Main Street Parade.

Read on as the report continues – and you’ll also find out about instrument donations for the student musicians:

Finally, on Monday morning, the Denny Jazz Ensemble and Sealth High School Jazz Ensemble #2 gave back-to-back concerts in the park at the Disney Carnation Plaza Gardens Stage, which has the distinction of being the longest-running big band stage in the world, and has hosted performances from Cab Calloway, Bob Crosby, Jimmy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Lionel Hampton, Les Brown, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Harry James, Eartha Kitt, and Benny Goodman.

All in all, 150 students from the two schools participated in 8 performances in a four-day weekend. The students earned four first-place awards and made memories that will last them the rest of their lives. Thank you to the many people who contributed money and instruments to the Denny and Sealth Bands this school year and the many parents who volunteered their time as tailors, chaperones, food servers, nurses, security, and movers over the last four days. The support of the parents and community has been tremendous and is greatly appreciated.

Now – more good news for the schools’ music programs:

Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School have been selected by The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to receive a donation of musical instruments. The following instruments will be donated:

1 bass trombone
2 mellophones
1 sousaphone
1 bari saxophone
2 marching baritones
1 oboe
1 bassoon
1 marimba

The total retail value of this donation is $42,000.