Festival Disney
Spruce up your performance skills, gain a competitive edge, and seize the opportunity to explore the Walt Disney World® Resort theme parks. Festival Disney is a positive and educationally meaningful music festival for talented Middle/junior high, high school and college/university concert choirs, orchestras and concert bands.
Walt Disney World, Florida
Festival Overview
Achieve performance excellence at our all Disney‐produced competitive music festival! Festival Disney gives your ensemble the chance to compete with other schools from across the country, while also having the opportunity to make once-in-a-lifetime memories at the Walt Disney World Resort.
In addition to middle/junior high school and high school ensembles, in 2025 we are excited to also invite college and university concert choirs, orchestras, and concert bands with both competitive and non-competitive adjudication options.
Also debuting in 2025, ensembles will be evaluated by two nationally recognized, collegiate level music educators and one Disney music professional teaching artist who will provide detailed, positive feedback to all ensembles through written and recorded comments. Following each performance, the ensemble will also experience an in-person individualized feedback clinic.
Disney Imagination Campus – Performing Arts is extremely proud to be endorsed by the National Association for Music Education.
2025 Festival Disney Dates
- March 7 & 8
- March 14 & 15
- March 21 & 22
- March 28 & 29
- April 4 & 5
- April 11 & 12
Additional Information
- Each ensemble must have a minimum of 15 student performers to be eligible to participate.
- Each school is invited to register a maximum of two (2) Concert Choirs, two (2) Concert Bands and/or two (2) Orchestras. (We are not able to accommodate specialty ensembles such as jazz bands or show/jazz/madrigal choirs.)
- All groups must provide their own chartered bus transportation to and from their performance and awards ceremony locations. Disney Transportation may not be used to attend festival activities.
- We are proud to feature instruments and equipment from music industry leaders such as Ludwig/Musser percussion, Glaesel String Instruments, Steinway & Sons Pianos and Wenger performance equipment.
- Schools with Band ensemble(s) participating in Festival Disney may also have a band ensemble participate in up to (1)
Soundtrack Sessions: Instrumental Workshop OR (1) Marching Performance on Sunday-Thursday only. (Separate application for the workshop OR separate application and audition materials for the marching performance must be submitted. This is subject to availability, successful audition for a marching performance, and if scheduled, a separate fee will apply for this add-on experience.)
Schools with band ensemble(s) in Festival Disney may NOT apply with a band ensemble for a Disney Imagination Campus – Performing Arts Stage Performance.
- Schools with Choir or Orchestra ensemble(s) participating in Festival Disney may also have a choir or orchestra participate in up to (1) Disney Imagination Campus – Performing Arts Workshop on Sunday-Thursday only.
(Separate application for the workshop must be submitted. This is subject to availability and if scheduled, a separate fee will apply for this add-on experience.)
Schools with choir or orchestra ensemble(s) in Festival Disney may NOT apply with a choir or orchestra for a Disney Imagination Campus – Performing Arts Stage Performance.
- All groups must be in the Orlando area and available to perform all-day Friday and Saturday of the selected festival weekend. (Groups that are available for only one festival day may encounter scheduling challenges and we are not able to guarantee that the group will be able to be scheduled on that specific day.)
- Each individual traveling on this event must purchase a minimum of a 2-day Festival Disney ticket package. (Annual Passes or Theme Park admissions not purchased through Festival Disney are not eligible.)
Nationally Recognized Adjudicators
To date, Festival Disney has been adjudicated by more than 150 distinguished collegiate music educators, including these instrumental and choral education specialists:
Past Choral Adjudicators
- Dr. Mitos Andaya Hart, Temple University
- Dr. Jerry Blackstone, University of Michigan
- Dr. Hugh Floyd, Furman University
- Dr. William Powell, Auburn University
- Dr. Rosephanye Powell, Auburn University
- Dr. Russell Robinson, University of Florida
- Dr. John Sinclair, Rollins College
Past Instrumental Adjudicators
- Prof. Keith Bearden, Texas Tech University
- Dr. Stephen Benham, Duquesne University
- Prof. Douglas Droste, Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music
- Dr. Ken Dye, University of Notre Dame
- Prof. Joseph Hermann, Tennessee Tech University
- Dr. Catherine Rand, University of Southern Mississippi
- Dr. LaToya Webb, Wilfrid Laurier University
Venues
- Festival Disney events will take place at a number of venues in and around the Walt Disney World Resort.
- Venues will be listed as part of the festival schedule and maps that directors will receive approximately 6 weeks prior to the event.
Festival Disney Solo & Ensemble
We are proud to offer this VIRTUAL educational offering that allows students to compete and receive solo or small ensemble ratings and written feedback from a nationally recognized Festival Disney adjudicator. Students will also receive an exclusive Festival Disney Solo & Ensemble medal for their participation.
- This virtual competition is for solo performers or ensembles of 9 or fewer performers, who are already part of a group participating in Festival Disney
- All performance videos will be submitted online, prior to the group’s trip
- A specific Solo & Ensemble registration form with final details will be sent to all directors closer to the festival dates
Additional fees apply for this experience.
National Core Arts Standards
This performance opportunity fulfills many of the National Core Arts Standards for creation, performing, responding and connecting. Review the standards.
Pricing Information
What's Included
- 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-day admission to Walt Disney World Resort theme parks
- A 20- to 25-minute adjudicated performance with written and recorded comments
- A personalized educational clinic conducted by a designated adjudicator (concert ensembles only)
- Festival Disney Awards for all participating ensembles
- Exclusive Festival Disney Medal for all performers
- Special Festival Disney Awards Ceremony
Awards
- Festival Disney Award
All ensembles receive a Festival Disney Award recognizing their participation.
- Festival Disney Medal
Each performer receives an exclusive Festival Disney Medal to commemorate their participation.
- Best in Class
Presented to the highest-scoring ensemble within each Division and Classification.
- Festival Disney Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards
Presented to the three highest, Superior-rated ensembles within specific categories.
Special Awards
- Choral: Outstanding Soloist, Outstanding Student Accompanist
- Concert Band & Orchestra: Outstanding Soloist
- Adjudicator’s Special Recognition: Selectively awarded by the adjudicators for performances of merit by individuals or sections
An exciting celebration is planned for all Festival Disney participants. This special ceremony will take place at the Walt Disney World® Resort on Saturday night.
Please review the Festival Disney Overview for specific details regarding the awards.
How to Participate
- Review the Festival Disney Overview and Open Letter to School Administrators for full event details.
- Select the appropriate Ensemble Division and Adjudication Status.
- Complete the online registration.
- Submit the non-refundable registration fee for each ensemble. (Fee information provided during registration process.)
- We have received the non-refundable registration fee for each eligible ensemble
- The Festival Disney offices review the registration/availability
- You have received a confirmation message
During the scheduling phase, we will work to schedule ensembles in the order that their registration was confirmed.
You must apply and receive confirmation of acceptance before purchasing Theme Park tickets for the group.
