High School Marching Band’s Instruments Stolen 1 Day Before Performance in Disney World Parade

In a remarkable display of resilience and community support, the Ashland High School Music Department in Ohio faced a daunting challenge just hours before their highly anticipated performance at Disney World. Following the theft of several instruments from an equipment truck, the school’s marching band was left in a precarious situation, but staff and local music stores rallied to ensure that every student was able to participate in the parade.

The journey to Florida began on March 27, with about 165 students, faculty, and volunteers embarking on a 22-hour bus ride to Walt Disney World for their spring break trip. Upon their arrival in Orlando, excitement filled the air as the group prepared for a day out at Disney Springs. However, the mood shifted dramatically when Marty Kral, the band director and chair of the Music Department, discovered that their equipment truck had been tampered with. Many of the band’s instruments had been stolen, leaving a substantial number of students without their necessary musical gear for the upcoming performance.

Kral expressed his immediate concern when he realised the extent of the theft. “The next morning we were supposed to perform at Disney, and a huge amount of kids aren’t gonna get that moment,” he recounted. The situation seemed dire, and the prospect of finding replacements in such a short timeframe appeared daunting.

However, band leaders quickly mobilised to source new instruments from local retailers. They reached out to Music & Arts, a national music store partner, and visited multiple local shops, organising month-long rentals for each missing instrument. Kral decided to keep the group informed until their evening meeting, where they would learn the full extent of the theft. Most of the stolen instruments were actually personal possessions belonging to the students, which left many feeling deeply violated.

“They all just seemed kind of violated,” Kral noted, reflecting on his students’ sentiments. “Like somebody did it as a personal attack to them, which I completely understand as a teenager.” Determined to ensure the performance could go ahead, staff worked tirelessly through the night to secure replacements for the missing instruments.

As the clock ticked down to the performance, one student still needed a saxophone. With time running out, staff members swiftly reached out to other bands at the resort. In a stroke of luck, they connected with a fellow Ohio-based band that was also on a trip to Disney World. One family from that band was extending their stay and had an additional saxophone that could be borrowed.

In the early hours of Monday morning, Kral made his way to the hotel where the saxophone was located, successfully retrieving the instrument just before the parade was due to begin. By the time the marching band took to the streets of Main Street U.S.A., every student had an instrument, with approximately 20% of them performing on instruments they had never played before.

As the band marched through the park, they played “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” a beloved tune from Disney’s Toy Story. The performance was met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd, and Kral noted that he would be surprised if anyone in the audience could discern that some musicians were using unfamiliar instruments. “They just went for it and it was pretty darn good,” he asserted.

After the exhilarating performance, the students had a couple more days to enjoy the theme parks before returning home to Ohio. Kral mentioned that the department would return the rented instruments to the local music store once replacements were secured. This incident not only showcased the band’s spirit and determination but also exemplified the supportive nature of their community, willing to come together in times of adversity.

Despite this unfortunate event, the experience reinforced an essential lesson for the students: the importance of resilience, teamwork, and the power of community in overcoming challenges.