HART WIND ENSEMBLE PERFORMS IN FLORIDA.

Byline: Daily News

NEWHALL - The Hart High School Wind Ensemble performed for a group of renowned judges during The Disney Honors, a national concert band and orchestra invitational held March 29 through April 2 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.

The ensemble participated with others from around the United States and one from Japan.

"Achieving excellence in musicianship takes a lot of commitment and determination," said Tim Hill, director of special programs for the Disney resort. "We feel this kind of dedication deserves the highest form of recognition."

The evaluators included five outstanding instrumental educators who represented more than 200 years of teaching experience and have conducted more than 1,000 clinics at festivals across the U.S. and abroad. All have led award-winning ensembles and have been recognized as being at the top of their fields.

The Disney Honors is a noncompetitive, nonranked music festival held each spring. The ensembles participate in a welcome breakfast and orientation, a one-hour presentation conducted by a music educator, a private Disney party, a performance in a specially designed music venue and a clinic with a nationally recognized evaluator.

During a gala at the end of the program, each ensemble was recognized and presented with The Disney Honors Award and performers received medals commemorating their participation.

To qualify for the event, ensembles sent recordings and three nomination forms from music educators and leaders familiar with the program.