Heights Lions Support Band Boosters

kmarksteiner0
1 hour ago
2 min read

Cavemen Band Boosters of CHS received a $1,500 donation from Carlsbad Heights Lions to support music and marching performances by Band plus Color Guard—with three regional competitions within this month, dubbed “Band’tober.” Each out-of-town trip needs four rented buses, plus hired drivers.

As primary concessionaires at football games (a fundraising endeavor), Band Boosters sold 200 hot dogs, 650 hamburgers, and 6,000 bottles of water or soda at homecoming. The Boosters’ biggest recent expense was a $3,400 storage shed for ice chests and tables at football games. Gotta spend to earn.

Revenue covers the cost of transportation to competitions, as well as uniforms and instruments. Carlsbad High School principal Jason Hightower is a former drum major. He’s dedicated to Band and its fundraising efforts.

Band Booster Ashley Casey points out that discipline acquired in Band pays off academically. Five recent valedictorians were in Band. Four out of 10 top academic awards at graduation go to Band members.

Among the instructors of Band are Melanie McDowell for clarinet, Robert Galindo for saxophone, and Band director Ken Young for tuba. Last weekend, a professional from ENMU trained Band percussionists.

As director for more than a decade, Young visits the middle schools to encourage younger students to take up an instrument. Additionally, he accepts dedicated freshmen who are beginning musicians. Last year, there were four such, and this year, nine newbies.

Casey is the mother of a recent graduate son who played trumpet, a daughter who participates in both color guard and percussion, and a middle school son who is starting trombone.

Heights Lion Justin Thompson suggested that folks throughout our community of “Carlsbad Local” readers check their closets, garages, and storage spaces for languishing musical instruments. Donations of such might be used straight away by Band, or at least in middle school by incipient musicians.

With élan and dollars, Heights Lions support the Cavemen Band Boosters.