Pickford part of Disneyland All-American band

Days filled by practicing music will result in a summer filled with performing music at Disneyland for a Northern State University student.

Kelsey Pickford has been selected as one of 21 members of the Disneyland All-American Band. The band will play five shows a day from June 1 through mid-August at the California theme park and its resorts.

Pickford, 21, is a Custer native. She auditioned for the band in March at Northwestern University in Chicago. She was selected to play primarily tenor saxophone but also will play flute, clarinet and piccolo.

The summer gig is paid, but the experience is as important as the money, Pickford said. It's viewed as a career-starter for performing musicians. Band members will rehearse daily with studio musicians and others in the Los Angeles music industry.

Pickford said she eventually would like to work as a woodwind performer for Broadway musicals. Other options include teaching music at college or playing for movie scores and soundtracks because that would include the opportunities to play a wide variety of musical styles, she said.