‘Sounds of the Season’
It has become one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the North Fort Myers High School marching band.
Instead of dinner and a movie, join the band for an evening of holiday music and dining under the stars to support the band as it presents its second-annual “Sounds of the Season” concert on Friday, Dec. 16, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
The buffet style meal, which will be held in the courtyard, will be provided by The Sanibel Catering Company, which is owned by a band parent. It includes Caesar salad, dinner roll, choice of pork tenderloin/roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh vegetable, and dessert. soft drinks, water, and coffee will be available.
There will be a full band and several ensembles playing holiday music throughout the evening.
“It’s going to be a little chilly, but you have a lot of holiday music to kick off the season. There will be good food, good music and it’s a great opportunity to bring the family and friends,” said Sara Johnson, the band’s director.
Johnson has encouraged supporters to bring as many people as they can. Last year more than 200 people came and this year it has been expanded, with the goal of selling 300 tickets, which would raise about $7,500 minus expenses.
“It’s a great experience for the kids to put on a performance. It also helps the community and exposes them to help our program,” Johnson said. “Why would you go on a normal date and spend $50 when you can come here and have food that’s just as good and support a great program?”
The money will help the school pay general costs and buy new instruments, many of which are decades old and in need of replacing, Johnson said.
“We are in desperate need of new instruments. Some of them were purchased in the 1970s and ’80s, so they’re outdated,” Johnson said. “We’re an arts school. We want to offer the best equipment that produces the best sound. That’s an initiative I’m pushing as a director.”
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online ticket until Dec. 10. For more information, go to the ticketing page: https://goo.gl/hzRF1z
Questions or ticket requests may also be directed to: fundraising@nfmhs-band.com.
It has certainly been a great season for the band as it reached the state championships in Tampa last month, the second straight year the band has made states after years of frustration.
Johnson said this was the culmination of months of hard work that began in June and continued with three weeks of band camp on the hot pavement of the high school parking lot in August.
“We were fortunate to go to states this year. We performed at Tropicana Field so that was exciting. Hopefully, it’s a tradition that will keep going and we go back each year and create a standard to go there,” Johnson said.
The band finished 11th.