A COLLEGE band is preparing to fly to the US where the musicians will perform at Disneyland and Yosemite National Park.

The 48 students and six staff from Northallerton College's Concert Band will leave on Tuesday for the two-week Easter tour of California.

They will also perform in San Francisco and at Hemet High School, whose head of music, Geoff Tower, visited the college two years ago.

The band will visit Hollywood as tourists, where they will drop in at Universal studios and spend a day at Seaworld, while some older students will make a day trip to Mexico.

However, before they leave they have a busy schedule of rehearsals and performances to fulfil.

Last night, they played an end-of-term concert at the college, featuring about 100 musicians in various combinations, including the Concert Band, the Jazz Orchestra, the Dixieland group, three steel bands and a saxophone ensemble.

On Sunday, they will compete in the regional heats of the Festival for Youth competition and on Monday, the Concert Band will give a performance of the music that they will be taking on tour.

"Everyone is very excited and looking forward to the challenges ahead," said head of music Garry Firth.

Published: 25/03/2004