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Ashland Today
By the People, for the People
Ohio High School Band Overcomes Instrument Theft at Disney World
Ashland High School band members perform on Main Street USA after quick instrument replacement effort.
Apr. 4, 2026 at 11:23am
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An Ohio high school marching band had nearly 20% of their instruments stolen from their locked trailer while staying near Disney World in Florida. With their performance on Main Street USA the next morning, the band director and community quickly worked to acquire replacement instruments so the students could still take the stage.
Why it matters
The theft of the band's instruments threatened to derail their long-planned and hard-earned trip to perform at Disney World, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students. The community's swift response to replace the stolen items allowed the band to overcome the setback and still deliver their performance.
The details
The 100-member Ashland High School marching band had their trailer with uniforms and about 20% of their instruments stolen the first night they arrived at their hotel near Disney World. Flutes, saxophones, trumpets, and clarinets were all taken. With their Main Street USA performance scheduled for the next morning, the band director worked quickly to acquire replacement instruments from a local music store, with help from the community back home.
- The band arrived at Disney World on Sunday.
- The instruments were stolen from their trailer on Sunday night.
- The band performed on Main Street USA the following morning.
The players
Marty Kral
The band director of the Ashland High School marching band.
Brad Selan
The parent of a drummer in the Ashland High School marching band.
Ashland High School Marching Band
A 100-member high school marching band from Ashland, Ohio.
What they’re saying
“To have lost that, personally I feel that devastation for them we can replace that instrument but we can't replace that emotion that story attached to it and that's what breaks our heart the most.”
— Brad Selan, Parent of a drummer in the band
“Our only consideration was not worrying about the vandalism or finding out who did it, the only concern was how was I going to get instruments in the hands of kids so they could have their moment the following morning.”
— Marty Kral, Band Director
What’s next
The school district is hoping that insurance will cover the cost of the stolen instruments, and they have also started a GoFundMe page to help the students who lost their personal instruments.
The takeaway
This incident highlights the resilience and determination of the Ashland High School marching band and their community. Despite the setback of having their instruments stolen, they were able to quickly adapt and ensure the students could still perform at Disney World, demonstrating the power of teamwork and community support.
