Oak View Middle School New Marimba!
Donation protected
Oak View Middle School in Newberry, Florida has an amazing group of talented kids in their three bands! They have a beginning band, concert band and symphonic band. They are passionate about the music they play and take great pride when they perform. They have many of their students in the concert and symphonic band level who compete in Solo Competitions and last year had 19 members in the Alachua County Honors Band! In spring of 2015 they played at the Florida Bandmasters Music Performance Assessment and the concert and symphonic bands earned the ratings of Excellent and Superior. Oak View has earned the Superior rating at this event the last 9 out of 10 years! They played in the Orlandofest Grand Nationals in the spring of 2015 and took home the title of Orlandofest Middle School Grand National Champions!! There were middle and high schools from throughout the country and they earned Champions over 11 other schools from Florida, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina. But this is not just about the accolades that they have earned, this is about a love of music.
Throughout a school year these kids do A LOT of fundraising. In order to go to these competitions they raise money by doing family dinner nights, selling coffee, pasta, chocolate and many more items. Many of these kids, because of their love of music and wanting to play at their best, take lessons. And many of the instuments are rented each year. All this takes time and expense for their families. To raise funds for much needed new instruments on top of that is extremely difficult especially when the funding provided by the school district does not cover basic costs for the band program such as purchasing music or cleaning the instruments.
For many years they saved any extra money they could and in the fall of 2014 bought a new tuba! There was dancing in the streets that day!!
Everyone knows that the percussion section is the pulse of any band. They have an extremely vital and important job for the band. The Oak View band students are currently using a Marimba that was literally rescued from the dumpster that a high school in the area was throwing away.
As you can see by the picture - it has been pieced back together and sits on a table, which dampens the acoustic effect of a marimba when it is played. It can't be moved for fear of falling apart. Therefore, the band is currently unable to relocate this marimba for outdoor concerts such as their upcoming Veteran's Day performance at the school. The band currently has two snare drums but neither are wooden which is very important for a snare drum's sound. The money raised would enable the band to purchase a new snare drum and case and a new marimba on a wheeled frame. All three bands in the school would use these instruments.
The driving force who inspires these kids is an extremely dedicated and talented band director, Lori Pirzer. She pours her heart into everything she does with these kids and it shows when they play. Many times when people hear the Symphonic band play they cannot believe the kids are in middle school.
We hope that you will join our campaingn so that the Oak View Middle Schools bands can continue to play beautiful music!! Any amount is greatly appreciated! We all thank you for your support and generosity!!
The Oak View Middle School Bands!
Throughout a school year these kids do A LOT of fundraising. In order to go to these competitions they raise money by doing family dinner nights, selling coffee, pasta, chocolate and many more items. Many of these kids, because of their love of music and wanting to play at their best, take lessons. And many of the instuments are rented each year. All this takes time and expense for their families. To raise funds for much needed new instruments on top of that is extremely difficult especially when the funding provided by the school district does not cover basic costs for the band program such as purchasing music or cleaning the instruments.
For many years they saved any extra money they could and in the fall of 2014 bought a new tuba! There was dancing in the streets that day!!
Everyone knows that the percussion section is the pulse of any band. They have an extremely vital and important job for the band. The Oak View band students are currently using a Marimba that was literally rescued from the dumpster that a high school in the area was throwing away.
As you can see by the picture - it has been pieced back together and sits on a table, which dampens the acoustic effect of a marimba when it is played. It can't be moved for fear of falling apart. Therefore, the band is currently unable to relocate this marimba for outdoor concerts such as their upcoming Veteran's Day performance at the school. The band currently has two snare drums but neither are wooden which is very important for a snare drum's sound. The money raised would enable the band to purchase a new snare drum and case and a new marimba on a wheeled frame. All three bands in the school would use these instruments.
The driving force who inspires these kids is an extremely dedicated and talented band director, Lori Pirzer. She pours her heart into everything she does with these kids and it shows when they play. Many times when people hear the Symphonic band play they cannot believe the kids are in middle school.
We hope that you will join our campaingn so that the Oak View Middle Schools bands can continue to play beautiful music!! Any amount is greatly appreciated! We all thank you for your support and generosity!!
The Oak View Middle School Bands!
Organizer and beneficiary
Lori Hilman
Organizer
High Springs, FL
Jennifer Boe
Beneficiary