UK Musician Named Disneyland All-American
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Video by UK Public Relations and Marketing
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 7, 2015) — Lexington native Colleen Wagoner will be headed to California this month to be a part of the All-American College Band in Disneyland. Wagoner, a graduating music education senior, will be playing baritone saxophone for the prestigious summer program which has been around since 1971.
“As a musician, it is rare that we get opportunities like these where we are living and breathing music 24 hours a day and seven days a week,” Wagoner said. “Playing, rehearsing and talking to my band mates on a daily basis will influence and benefit me as a musician more than I can even grasp right now.”
Wagoner has been playing the saxophone for roughly eight years after making the switch from flute to saxophone in high school. Since being at UK, she has gained experience in flute, saxophone and clarinet. Wagoner has studied for five years under Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone Miles Osland, who she counts as a mentor as well as his wife Lisa Osland, adjunct professor of saxophone. While this will be her first trip to California, Wagoner has played several events across the country as a member of Wildcat Marching Band, UK Mega-Sax, the UK Sax Quartets, UK Jazz Combos, UK Wind Symphony and UK Jazz Ensemble, which she toured China with last summer.
The Disneyland All-American College Band is an ensemble of 21 college musicians who provide musical entertainment in the park. Disney chooses students who are musically gifted, have a diverse musical background and an expressive and outgoing personality as part of the All-American Band. Wagoner is only the second UK student to make the band.
Along with performing five-days-a-week, band members will also be able to study with professional musicians from the Los Angelese area and complete a musical educational project. Performances include big band, flag retreat and several parade shows throughout the park. In addition to being the only member playing the baritone saxophone, Wagoner will also be asked to play the flute, clarinet and piccolo while with the Disneyland All-American College Band.
The audition process consisted of one round of submitted video auditions followed by a second round of live auditions. As part of the band, Wagoner and her bandmates will live in California for three months where they are provided housing and a weekly stipend.
“The group is extremely difficult to get into, and I still can hardly believe I made it,” Wagoner said. “I can't wait to see how much better I become as a saxophone player once my time at Disney is up.”
UK Jazz Studies is part of the UK School of Music at UK College of Fine Arts. The school has garnered a national reputation for high-caliber education in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as music education, composition, and theory and music history.
MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu
