Check out this set from the jazz band on the Excelsior Citizen YouTube Channel!
Excelsior Springs, MO–The second annual Night With the Band fundraiser, a follow-up to the highly successful inaugural event in 2022, was held at the Montgomery Event Venue last Thursday. The first fundraiser, held to support the band’s trip to St. Louis, was a resounding success, prompting the decision to make this a yearly tradition.
This year, they raised money for the band’s future trip to Omaha. These trips can be very expensive for the parents, but these fundraisers help drastically decrease the cost of these wonderful experiences. The fundraiser also helps raise money for more basic things, such as new instruments and sheet music and allows students to participate in competitions such as district solos and ensembles.
This year’s fundraiser included the Middle School jazz band performing, a silent auction, a live auction, a dessert auction, a pasta dinner, a couple of jazz combos, and the Excelsior Springs High School jazz band. In this successful fundraiser, the band ended up raising nearly $8,300.
Many notable citizens of Excelsior Springs attended this event, including school board members, health board members, and some government officials. When junior Austin Collins was asked about the performance and the pressure of playing in front of this many high-profile people, he said, “The performance was awesome; probably the best our jazz band has ever played since I’ve been in the high school program and I think it was to do with us playing in front of those high profile people.”
One unique aspect of this event is that each table was decorated by a student(s). They decorated tables with things that were important to them in their lives. Examples included Wyatt Pontalion’s Chiefs-themed table and Lily Long’s tennis-themed table, among others. Students also served as waiters for the patrons, getting refills when needed. Each section of the band also created baskets that were auctioned off, including the Trumpet’s sports-themed basket and the Trombone’s barbecue-themed basket. It was a great way for the students to be able to show thanks to the patrons for everything they have done to support the band program.
Besides the obvious benefits of raising money for the band program, this event is also a fantastic way to show off all of the skills and hard work that members of the band put in! The jazz band has been working on songs for this performance all year, and it was great for them to show off everything they’ve been working on. Senior Colt Bowman said, “It was an opportunity to get the students’ work out to the public, and more than just, like a concert at the PAC.”
As much as it means to the students, it also means a lot to the band directors who have put in the hard work required to organize this complex event. Assistant Band Director Brett Morris said, “Night with a band means a lot to me. I love having the opportunity for the students to be shown off to the community… It helps me know that I’m doing my part working with the students every day.”
Keep an eye on the Excelsior Citizen Community Calendar, and be sure to attend what is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated events of the year.
If you appreciate the value our local journalism brings to the community, please consider making a recurring contribution to the Excelsior Citizen!
