Ohio High School Band Overcomes Stolen Instruments Before Disney Parade

Ashland High School students performed in Disney World parade after staff secured last-minute instrument rentals.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 6:11pm

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An abstract composition of sharp, geometric black silhouettes against a bright red background, conceptually representing a high school marching band performing at a Disney parade despite facing adversity.Determined high school musicians overcome stolen instruments to march in Disney World parade.Today in Orlando

Members of an Ohio high school marching band scheduled to perform in a Disney World parade were left scrambling after several of their instruments were stolen from an equipment truck. The Ashland High School Music Department, with about 165 students, staff and volunteers, arrived in Orlando on March 28 for the trip. On the morning of their scheduled parade performance, the band director discovered the locks on their equipment truck had been tampered with and many of the students' personal and school-owned instruments were missing.

Why it matters

The theft of the band's instruments threatened to ruin the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students to perform at Disney World. However, the quick action of the school's staff to secure last-minute instrument rentals allowed the students to still take part in the parade, showcasing their resilience and the power of community support.

The details

After discovering the theft, the band director and assistant band director worked through the night to rent replacement instruments from local music stores, including securing a saxophone borrowed from another Ohio school group. In the end, about 20% of the students ended up playing instruments they had never touched before, but they were still able to perform their parade routine playing 'You've Got a Friend in Me' from Toy Story.

  • On March 27, the Ashland High School Music Department departed for their spring break trip to Walt Disney World.
  • On March 28, the group arrived in Orlando, Florida after a 22-hour bus trip.
  • On March 29, the group departed for Disney Springs, where the band director discovered the equipment truck had been tampered with and many instruments were stolen.
  • On March 30, the band was scheduled to perform in a Disney World parade.

The players

Marty Kral

The director of bands and Music Department chair for Ashland High School.

Ashland High School Music Department

A group of about 165 students, staff and volunteers from Ashland High School in Ohio who traveled to Disney World for a spring break trip.

Music & Arts

A national retailer that partners with the local Ashland, Ohio music store to provide instrument rentals for the high school band.

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What they’re saying

“The next morning we were supposed to perform at Disney and a huge amount of kids aren't gonna get that moment. We knew pretty clearly we weren't just gonna suddenly find everybody's instruments.”

— Marty Kral, Director of Bands and Music Department Chair, Ashland High School

“They all just seemed kind of violated. Like somebody did it as a personal attack to them, which I completely understand as a teenager.”

— Marty Kral, Director of Bands and Music Department Chair, Ashland High School

“I would be shocked if anybody in the crowd that didn't know what had happened would have any idea that these kids had not plated on these instruments before. They just went for it and it was pretty darn good.”

— Marty Kral, Director of Bands and Music Department Chair, Ashland High School

What’s next

The Ashland High School Music Department plans to return the rented instruments to the local music store when replacements are available.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the resilience and determination of the Ashland High School band students, who refused to let the theft of their instruments ruin their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at Disney World. The quick action of the school's staff to secure last-minute rentals allowed the students to still take part in the parade, showcasing their talent and the power of community support.