JACKSON – The Jackson Liberty High School Marching Band enjoyed performing in Disney World as members of the Jackson Memorial High School Jaguar Marching Band are preparing to take center stage there next month.
This marks a double honor for the school district. The Jackson Liberty Band was marching at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando Florida having been selected to perform down Mainstreet USA
Liberty Band Director Scott Katona told The Jackson Times on March 4 that the band members were enjoying the Florida weather. “There is an application and selection process, hundreds of bands apply every year and not all bands are selected to march down Main Street before the big Festival of Fantasy Parade.”
“The Disney Imagination Campus was most impressed with the band’s accolades. Leading the Grand Marshall for the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and being State Champions for the past several years,” he added.
Katona said, “the cast members actually remembered the band stating, ‘you were one of the last to perform before Covid and we remember you’ The last time the Jackson Liberty band performed was the week Disney shut its door to Covid in March of 2020.”
The Jackson Memorial marching band and color guard were invited to travel to the Magic Kingdom to perform on April 18. The talented ensemble will be a part of Disney’s Imagination Campus parade lineup, showcasing their musical and visual prowess in the heart of Disney World.
The Jackson Memorial Band is under the direction of Jason Diaz and Eric Ficarra. “The Jackson Memorial High School Instrumental Music Ensembles always seek out unique performance opportunities and try to expose our students to different musical mediums and performance spaces,” Diaz remarked.
“Performing on Main Street USA is one of these ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunities for our students. The trip will include visits to other attractions within Walt Disney World, creating lasting memories for the students,” Diaz added.
The Main Street, USA performance promises to be a highlight of the band’s trip. The performance will showcase a compilation of popular Disney melodies including “Mickey Mouse March,” “It’s a Small World” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”
The band’s Senior Drum Major, Samantha Libby, said “Everyone is very excited to go to Disney and perform, especially the seniors. Many of us thought we’d never get an opportunity like this.”
The band’s participation in this prestigious event is a testament to their dedication and excellence in marching band performances, he added.
“It is a wonderful experience to march down this street, look up, and see Cinderella’s Castle staring directly back at you while hearing cheers from spectators from around the world,” he said.
The Jaguar Band is a competitive marching band with approximately 70 active students. They are one of many instrumental music ensembles at Jackson Memorial High School. Other ensembles that are available are Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Lab, Woodwind Choir, Percussion Ensemble, and the Pit Orchestra for the Spring Musical.
According to their website, the Jaguar Marching Band program “has consistently achieved the highest level of excellence in both its performance and community obligations. They work hard to be some of the finest musicians in the New Jersey area and spend time playing at various community events.”
Family, friends, and supporters of the JMHS Marching Band are encouraged to support the band by visiting the band’s website at jacksonjaguarband.com and donating to the Disney Fundraiser which will help cover the cost of transporting students, uniforms, and instruments to Florida and back for this amazing opportunity.
Supporters can also visit the band’s Zeffy fundraising link at zeffy.com/en-US/peer-to-peer/e418da44-4a67-415a-9e77-2cf46b273126.
Their website notes, “Your generous donation helps us with the enormous cost of transporting students, uniforms and instruments to Florida and back for this once in a lifetime opportunity. It also gives these incredibly hard-working students some time to just be kids and enjoy time in the Disney World parks! Thank you for supporting the arts and our students!”
