By Mary O’KEEFE

The award-winning Crescenta Valley High School band needs the community’s help after some of its equipment was accidently thrown out.

“We had recently purchased new ‘drum heads’ for our drumline of the marching band for this year’s competition season. We are in the middle of competition season right now. A custodian accidently discarded the equipment,” said Fred Davis, band parent.

Apparently the custodian thought the equipment was trash and disposed of the drum heads days before the band members noticed them missing.

“The loss is about $1,000. These are essential to the drumline,” Davis added.

The band has received donations to help replace that equipment; however, the CV Instrumental Music still raises funds throughout the year and needs donations.

The band members and their families are responsible for funding a lot of the equipment and uniforms for the CVHS band.

“The cost to run the entire
music program at CVHS, including the marching band, jazz band, concert band, wind ensemble, string ensemble and symphony – from instrument repair to transportation costs, uniforms and everything to keep the program going – is at a minimum of $75,000,” Davis said.

The school contributes a small fraction of that amount but the bulk of the funding comes from outside donations, families and fundraisers.

The CVHS marching and jazz bands are award-winning programs at the school. Members of the band volunteer their time for many local community events like California Council of the Blind Mutt Strut and Prom Plus Holiday Boutique.

Any financial help is appreciated by the students who are up in the early morning hours to practice and who attend and perform at not only every football game but they also compete throughout California and beyond.

Anyone who would like to donate to help the CVHS band program can do so by mailing donations to: Crescenta Valley Instrumental Music Foundation, P.O. Box 582, Verdugo City, CA  91046.

According to Davis, 100% of contributions go directly to support CVHS instrumental music.  Simply write “donation” in the memo line.

CVIM is a non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.

  Mary Okeefe