A night of fun and music provided by the popular local band “Eddie West” will help raise money needed to send the Lapeer West High School Symphony Band to the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids in January. (Photo credit: Julie Fernandez. Click on photo to enlarge)Lapeer West was one of only four high school bands in Michigan selected to perform this year. The selection marks the fifth time in 31 years that Lapeer West Symphony Band was selected for this honor.
Every year more than 2,000 music educators, public and collegiate, attend the conference. To be selected the West band had to submit an application and a live recording of the ensemble. A selection committee reviews the applications and recordings and selects only the most outstanding ensembles to showcase at the conference.
Cost for the trip, which includes busing, meals, programs and lodging for 72 students is estimated at about $25,000. A series of fund-raisers are being held to defray student costs.
“The students have achieved this honor through hard work and discipline,” said West Band Director Daniel Hundt. “They have represented our schools and community at the very highest level.”
The Symphony Band is scheduled to perform from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Friday, January 22nd in the DeVos Place Performance Hall in Grand Rapids.
The “Eddie West” benefit will be at the Lapeer Country Club from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2009. There will be a silent auction and snacks will be provided. Tickets are $10 per person. All money raised at the event will benefit the trip. Tickets are on sale at the Lapeer West High School office or by contacting Mary Nugent at at (248) 515-9904 or mnugent@lapeerwestmusic.org.
Special thanks to the Lapeer Optimist, Kiwanis, and Sunrise Kiwanis Clubs for their generous donations. We also wish to thank Mary Sue Weber for club contact information.
Anyone wishing to make a donation for the trip may call Mr. Hundt at (810) 656-3368.
