Baker Band director: 'Blessed' to lead Baker students and chorus

CRESTVIEW — Tony Chiarito spent his entire career as director of Baker School's middle and high school bands and choruses. He will retire Aug. 31. For one of the band's final performances under his leadership, he chose the April 13 evening parade at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

Why?

"Disney does everything well, and they definitely do parades right. Their planning is meticulous, and from the time the students meet to go backstage, until the time the students return to the park after the parade, they are treated as valued performers, and are actually considered to be Disney 'cast members' during their time there," Chiarito said. 

Fifty-two students, who range from eighth-graders to seniors, marched in an evening parade with the Disney Performing Arts Youth Program, where they performed the theme song from "Pirates of the Caribbean."

The Baker group's first performance at Disney was three or four years ago, according to Pamela Lehman, a Baker band parent and Band Booster Club member. She said while the entire group wasn't able to attend this year's performance, "the seniors (who participated) this year were freshmen when we went last."

When asked about his students, Chiarito said, "(They) are amazing young men and women. They are polite, well-mannered, and ready to work hard on the task at hand.  Not only is this true of the band, but really true of the entire school.

"I have always said that I have been truly blessed to be able to work at the best school, in the best county, with the best students, parents, and colleagues."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker Band director: 'Blessed' to lead Baker students and chorus