The NSU Middle Lab School Orchestra competed at Festival Disney in Orlando, Florida on March 31, 2023 through April 1, 2023. Festival Disney is the premiere international music festival where fifty-one orchestras, bands, and choirs performed with hopes of winning one of the coveted Mickey Mouse trophies.
The Middle Lab Orchestra consisted of sixty-one string orchestra members from grades six through eight. They were accompanied by 174 chaperones, siblings, grandparents, and Lab School Orchestra Director Katrice LaCour and Talent Instructor Milovan Paz.
The group performed at the Ballroom of the Americas at the Disney’s Contemporary Resort and were evaluated by three adjudicators. The panel consisted of Dr. Kenneth Dye, Director of Bands and Professor of Music at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Rick Good, Department Chair and Director of Bands at Auburn University, and Professor Gary Langford, Professor Emeritus of Music at the University of Florida.
Three types of awards were presented at the awards ceremony in the Indiana Jones theater. The Festival Disney award is presented to ensembles receiving a Superior (90-100%) or Excellent rating (80-89%). Best in Class is presented to the highest rated ensemble within their division. Festival Disney Gold, Silver and Bronze awards are presented to the three highest superior-rated ensembles. The NSU Middle Lab Orchestra received a Festival Disney Superior Award for a score of 93.5%. The Orchestra was then awarded Best in Class for the highest score in its division. Finally, the group was awarded the Gold Mickey Mouse Award for the highest score overall.
Mr. LaCour would like to invite the public to Magale Recital Hall to hear this award-winning group on Monday, May 15, 2023 starting at 5:30pm.
The NSU Middle Lab School Orchestra, along with Director Mr. LaCour, would like to thank the following sponsors:
| City of Natchitoches | Fox Realty | City Bank | Sabine State Bank | Howard Conday Law Office |
| Bank of Montgomery | Pilgrams Pride | Boise Cascade | Knights of Columbus | NSU Foundation |
| Alliance Compressors | John Flynn | Maggios | Interstate Building Material | Hospice of Natchitoches |
| Durrett Title LLC | Poches Wood Specialist | Crieg George | Blanchard Funeral Home | Engage Credit Union |
| Bolton Realty | Richard Rodger | Roy O Martin | Hsiaopei Lee | Dr. Handel |
| Wurster Oil Company | AKA Construction | Weyerhaeuser | Natchitoches Sheriff Department | Chad Nelson |
| Cane River Charities | Mary Jones | Sweet Fruit Delights | Lasyone's | Maglieaux's |
| Raising Canes | Whataburger | McAllister | Chili's | Olive Garden |
| Mama's & Papa's | Merci Beaucoup | Pioneer Pub | Mariners |