Festival Disney is a positive and educationally meaningful festival experience for talented middle, junior high and high school performers. Directors can choose competitive and non-competitive adjudication options.
Festival Disney is open to concert bands, jazz ensembles, marching (parade) bands, orchestras, choral ensembles, show choirs and auxiliary units.
Specially selected, national adjudicators provide detailed, positive feedback to all ensembles through written and recorded comments, as well as personalized feedback clinics following concert performances.
Due to the festival’s focus towards music education, MENC: The National Association for Music Education officially endorses Festival Disney.
Groups are also encouraged to schedule time for their students to observe other ensemble performances.
Festival Disney takes place on Fridays and Saturday (and selected Thursday) at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida.
Festival Disney concludes with an exciting, and uniquely-Disney, awards ceremony at a Walt Disney World® Theme Park. Festivals take place on select weekends throughout the Spring.
- 25 minute adjudicated performance with taped and written comments
- Personalized educational clinic conducted by a designated adjudicator (Concert groups only)
- Festival Disney Award for all ensembles
- Exclusive Festival Disney Medal for all students
- Special Festival Disney Awards Ceremony
- 3, 4 or 5-Day admission to Walt Disney World® Theme Parks
- Two (2) Festival Disney director's packages included per school
- Directors receive a Festival Disney Handbook
Adjudicated Performances:
Each ensemble has the opportunity to perform for a select panel of adjudicators who will provide written and recorded feedback. Primary concert performance venues include Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Disney's Hollywood Studios™ just to name a few. (Performing locations subject to change)
Festival Disney features nationally recognized music educators. To date, more than 150 collegiate music educators have participated in our festival including:
Choral:
- James Morrow: University of Texas
- Jerry Blackstone: University of Michigan
- Kevin Fenton: Florida State University
- Susan Conkling: Eastman School
- Mitos Andaya: University of Georgia
Instrumental:
- Linda Moorhouse: Louisiana State University
- Gary Smith: University of Illinois -- Retired
- Julian White: Florida A & M University
- Johnny Vinson: Auburn University -- Retired
- Ken Dye: Notre Dame University
Personalized Educational Clinics: Concert groups participate in a personalized clinic with one of the adjudicators. During the clinic, the ensemble will have the opportunity to receive immediate feedback on their performance and gain valuable insight on ways to take their musical performance to the next level.
2010 Dates 2011 Dates
March 5 & 6 March 4 & 5
March 12 & 13 March 11 - 12
March 18, 19 & 20 March 17 - 19
March 25, 26 & 27 March 24 - 26
April 8, 9 & 10 March 31 - April 2
April 15, 16 & 17 April 7 - 9
April 22, 23 & 24 April 14 - 16
April 30 & May 1 April 28 - 30
May 7 & 8 May 6 - 7
Kathy LeTarte Scholarship
Every group traveling with New Horizons to the Walt Disney World® Resort is eligible for one $250 scholarship to a graduating senior majoring in any music career. All submissions are then eligible for a $5000 Scholarship!