From Toccoa to Disney, SCHS Band and Auxiliary Experience the Magic
The Stephens County High School (SCHS) Marching Indian Band and Auxiliary were selected to participate in Disney’s Imagination Campus program with a special March on Main Street in the Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Festival of Fantasy parade on Friday, April 5.
In all, sixty students, twelve chaperones, and four band and auxiliary directors traveled from Toccoa to Orlando to represent Stephens County and experience all Disney has to offer on the “center stage” and behind the scenes.
Zachery Towery, SCHS Band Director, said “It was an extreme honor to be selected to participate in this special, possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially for our seniors. The Band and Auxiliary applied back in the fall and had to submit videos and pictures of them in action on the field and in parade formation. It is a very selective process and only the best of the best high school bands in the country are chosen to perform in the Disney parade.”
During the three-day visit organized by Student Group Tours, students were also fortunate to experience a variety of attractions and rides. Towery thanked parents, teachers, friends, family, and members of the community for supporting the opportunity for the students, as the band was able to raise a significant portion of the total cost of the trip.
He added, “This trip is the result of not only the hard work by the band and auxiliary members as well as SCHS staff, their families, the chaperones, and other parent volunteers but also the support and guidance of the administration of Stephens County High School and the Stephens County School System.”
The SCHS Band is under the direction of Director Zachary Towery and Assistant Director Ryan Jackson. Auxiliary Director Kenzie Cash and Assistant Auxiliary Director Tamera Cash lead the SCHS Auxiliary. The SCHS Band program includes Marching, Symphonic, Pep, and Jazz Bands. The Auxiliary is part of the Marching Band and consists of Silks, Flagettes, and Majorettes.
