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As the music teacher at Marley Park Elementary School, creating extra-curricular choirs for the school’s third through eighth grade students is something I’m very passionate about. “Sound Sensations” is the competitive show choir for grades 5-8. Students in this choir perform at school, district, and city events. For the past few years, students have worked to raise money to attend the Disney Imagination Experience in Anaheim, CA. The road to performing at the Disneyland Resort is quite challenging. Students must first try out at the end of the school year prior to when they plan to participate. Students attend a three-day practice session where they learn an audition song and its choreography. Putting the two parts together, students perform to show their singing and dancing abilities. After seeing all participants, a group is chosen. This year there are forty students performing.

After the group is formed, students attend a summer camp to get started on their musical set which consists of singing and dancing for a minimum of twenty minutes but can be up to thirty minutes. Students must now prepare an audition for Disney coordinators to view. Sound Sensations passed this year on its first audition review. When school begins, students sell lollipops, chocolate bars, and get sponsors to help raise funds to pay for their hotel stay, charter bus, park hopper ticket, and performance fees. The more students that attend, the higher the cost. This year’s fees are just under $25,000. Students also practice twice a week from August through December to learn all the choreography. From January to April students practice once a week to retain learned material and make the set as perfect as possible. Students also must wear a costume consisting of a yellow shirt, black pants with black shoes, and green bandanas to support our Maverick colors.

Students love working with one another and learning how to work together to be a team. Everything must be done together. Students who participate in this group are fun to work with and love performing.

To support the Marley Park Elementary School Choir and its fundraising goals, contact the Marley Park PTA at MarleyParkPTA@gmail.com.

Submitted by Laurel Ruff| Music Teacher | Marley Park Elementary School