East Coweta High School traveled from Sharpsburg to the Walt Disney World Resort on April 16-18, for the 5th annual Festival Disney Competitive Music Festival. East Coweta’s Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band members competed for top honors in this one-of-a-kind festival event.

During the event, choral ensembles, marching, jazz and concert bands, orchestras, show choirs, and auxiliary units participated in adjudicated performances, personalized feedback clinics and a high-energy awards ceremony.

The festival series schedule included two days of adjudicated performances, where ensembles received valuable written and recorded feedback from nationally recognized music educators. To conclude the event, groups were invited to the Festival Disney Awards Ceremony. All ensembles receive an exclusive Festival Disney Award, and every participant received a Festival Disney Medal to commemorate their participation. Competing groups vied for Best in Class and Festival Disney Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards.

Each director selected the group's classification and one of three adjudication categories when they registered. The categories included Competition — where groups are rated and ranked for the top awards; Ratings Only — where the ensemble is awarded a rating but not a ranking; and Comments Only — where the group received only written and verbal feedback. Immediately following their performance, concert ensembles participated in a feedback clinic with one of the adjudicators.

Festival Disney is open to junior, middle and high school music groups. MENC, The National Association for Music Education, officially endorses Festival Disney. This music festival is part of the Disney Performing Arts which offer instrumental, vocal and dance groups the opportunity to learn, perform and celebrate at the Disney Parks.

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