Lebanon High band to play in New York

By: Joe Tennis | TriCities.com
Published: March 18, 2010

Playing a festival in Gatlinburg, Tenn., helped snowball some attention toward the Lebanon High School Band.
The Russell County, Va., group recently won an invitation to perform at the Lincoln Center in New York City.
And that’s a big deal: “We have never made a trip to something like the Lincoln Center,” said Band Boosters Treasurer Brenda Bundy.
The Lincoln Center show happens on March 24 as part of the band’s New York City trip, which also includes performing a field show at the Statue of Liberty.
Still, while all this may be an honor, it has come as a surprise – and also at a lean time, when the school band still needs money to replace its 13-year-old uniforms as well as worn-out chairs and music stands.
This year, with streets full of ice, snowy days did not give the band members – and the band boosters – much opportunity to find sponsors for this trip or its other needs, Bundy said.
Never mind: Full blast ahead!
The band is going to New York City on March 23-26.
To save money on a hotel room, the band members are expected to sleep on the bus on the way to the Big Apple after leaving at 9 p.m. March 22.
“When we get there, we will hit the ground running – dirty, rumpled or not,” Bundy said.
While in New York, the band members are paying a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
“This trip is entirely about education and performing,” said Bundy, whose daughter, Kathleen, plays flute and piccolo in the band.
The high school group has taken on this $40,000 trip after months of washing cars, selling fruit and making money selling snacks at the concession stand during football games.
“We’re working constantly trying to raise money,” Bundy added.
Yet, Bundy said, just about all the money that the band has raised for new uniforms – costing about $600 each – will now pay for the New York City trip, costing about $589 per person.
As for the uniforms, Bundy said, “We have pinned and hemmed them ... We dressed out 48 kids this year in the band.”
The band is looking for sponsors. “If we can find some sponsors, some of the money will go immediately to help these children for this trip,” Bundy said. “Even if they send $25, even if they send $15, it all adds up.”
Fortunately, the band has won the blessings of school leaders.
“We are very fortunate that the Russell County School Board supports this band program,” Bundy said. “The Russell County School Board is aware of the arts, and they want to keep music in the schools.”
For more information on making donations to the band, contact the band director, Chad Brooks, at (276) 889-6538, or write: Lebanon High School Band Boosters, P.O. Box 217, Lebanon, VA 24266.

Lebanon High band to play in New York

Share This:

More from this channel:

Reader Comments

Deal of the Day

Most Popular

Things to Do