TCMS Band students shine in Universal Studios Sound Design Workshop
Published 3:04 pm Thursday, March 27, 2025
A FUN-FILLED TIME: The TCMS seventh and eighth-grade band posed in front of the Universal sign in Orlando, Florida. (Submitted Photo)
SOUNDING INCREDIBLE: At the front, William Majors and Producer Michael Knight guide the students as they perform an original underscore for the animated film Despicable Me during the STARS Sound Design Workshop at Universal Studios Orlando. The seventh and eighth-grade band students are led by Band Directors William Majors, Ryan Booth, Amy Amaro, and Percussion Instructor Aaron Reynolds. (Submitted Photo)
THOMASVILLE- Seventh and eighth-grade band students from Thomas County Middle School recently embarked on an exciting and educational journey to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The highlight of their trip was the STARS Sound Design Workshop, where they had the unique opportunity to perform an original underscore for the animated movie Despicable Me.
During the workshop, students created Foley sound effects, selected digital enhancements, and recorded their performance on Stage 19 at Universal Studios. Their work was professionally captured by Universal’s audio and video team, giving them a hands-on experience in film sound design.
Seventh-grader Katheryn Helton shared her enthusiasm for the experience, saying, “I really enjoyed the group Foley art activities. It pushed me out of my comfort zone. Another thing I loved was the opportunity to play and hear what we needed to improve as a group. It was extremely interesting.”
Beyond the workshop, students explored Islands of Adventure, attended the Medieval Times Dinner Theater, and enjoyed the thrills of Universal Studios Theme Park.
Band Director William Majors emphasized the educational value of the trip, explaining, “We take a ‘big’ trip like this every other year. While theme parks are a fun part of the experience, we always incorporate an educational element. In the past, this has included a Broadway musical or a symphony orchestra concert. This year, our students had an incredible opportunity to participate in the Despicable Me sound design workshop. They not only performed as a band but also learned about music technology and the role of music and sound effects in the film industry.”
Majors also shared insight into the selection process: “To participate, we had to submit a recording of our band as part of an application process that began in August. We’re grateful our band was chosen.”
Universal Studios is expected to provide a final cut of the short film featuring the students’ soundtrack in the coming weeks, allowing them to see—and hear—their hard work come to life on screen.
