Chaminade Middle School band and C-Notes (choir) students did something out of the ordinary school day on Thursday, February 23. Instead of their usual class schedules in Chatsworth, they travelled to Anaheim and became honorary Disney cast members and went behind the scenes at Disneyland.

As a part of the Disney Performing Arts Program, band students participated in a soundtrack clinic, during which they played music they had never seen—to perfection. Their recorded music was then played back to a movie scene, which band students listened to and watched. While the 46 band members and their teacher Cynthia Snyder learned how soundtracks are made, the C-Notes performed onstage at the Carnation Plaza Garden Stage.

Led by choir director, Kathy Rohrs, the C-Notes entertained park guests with their upbeat and eclectic 30-minute program, featuring songs from Duke Ellington, Broadway, Stephen Schwartz, and Disney. In addition to a taste of showbiz, the C-Notes met with Disneyland producers, had their pictures taken backstage, went through a costume change, and were critiqued as performers—in short, they truly experienced what it is like to be a top-notch, Disney cast member.

While this is a highlight of the school year, the band and C-Notes have competitions ahead of them in March. On Friday, March 9, Middle School band students will enter the Southern California Band and Orchestra Association festival. Both the band and the C-Notes will travel to San Diego for the Heritage Festival San Diego from March 22 to 25. C-Notes fans can also look forward to their return to Carnegie Hall in 2014!