Bye-bye Birdie, hello spring break! As band and choir students involved in the winter musical close the curtains for “Bye Bye Birdie”, they have multiple performances to prepare for their upcoming spring break trip to Disney World.

The trip, organized by the band director Mr. Vince Genualdi, is offered to students taking choral or band classes as well as those involved in Music Ministry or Chamber Singers. The upcoming trip, taking place from March 25 to March 29, has over 85 students attending.

“I am looking forward to getting to travel to a popular place and getting to attend workshops as a band while still enjoying fun times with friends,” said sophomore Emily Goebel, who is involved in the choral program.

However, the planning for this trip begins during the prior year when students start the fundraising process. The different fundraisers that go toward this trip include annual Butterbraid and cheesecake sales, the fall concert raffle and a 50/50 raffle at a football game. In the Butterbraid and cheesecake fundraisers, each person’s sales go toward his or her own payment, while the raffles go toward lowering the group cost.

The trip itself is organized with the help of a travel agent and a representative from Disney Performing Arts. The groups will visit all four Disney World theme parks, which includes Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, in addition to Universal Studios theme parks, the Islands of Adventure and the Universal Studios Florida theme park.

“We try to see as many parks as we can,” said Mr. Genualdi.

In addition to going to theme parks, the students attending will participate in workshops and multiple performances. The clinics allow students to work in the Disney studio with a cast member; they are also given the opportunity to record the music for a scene in a Disney movie, which the clinician chooses.

“I am excited to travel to a popular place and attend workshops as a band while still having a good time with friends,” said sophomore Nicole Durso, who plays in Symphonic Band.

The groups also have the opportunity to perform at two major ensemble performance spots at Disney World, which include Melody Gardens at Epcot and the waterfront stage at Downtown Disney.

A recent change to the trip includes the groups traveling on a plane rather than a bus, which is what has been done in prior trips. Flying allows for less time devoted to transportation and more time for parks and workshops. Although Disney World has always been where the bands and choirs travel, new destinations have been considered in recent years.

“The hope is that the performing ensembles will begin traveling to alternative locations,” said Mr. Genualdi.