ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Saugus High School Band member Anthony Nguyen, who plays the cymbols, at band practice. A fundraiser for the Saugus band will be held on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Banana Splitz at 526 Lincoln Ave in Saugus.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
SAUGUS — A small band is making a lot of noise.
The Saugus High School Band, which recently took home the gold award in the Great East Festival, is raising money to see the Boston Symphony Orchestra and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday at Banana Splitz on Lincoln Avenue, 25 percent of sales proceeds made by customers who bring a copy of a flier advertising the event, will go towards the trip.
The fliers were distributed by band members in the weeks leading up to Monday’s event, said Justin Jones, the band teacher.
The band is comprised of 19 members, nine of which were graduating seniors. Jones said what the band is able to accomplish at a small size is what makes it unique.
“We put in a lot of work,” Jones said. “We are kind of a scrappy band in that we only have 19 members. But this year was all about working hard and really focusing on all the tiny details to make everything great.”
The band’s small size poses a set of challenges that other high school bands may not face, he said.
“It really stresses independence,” Jones said. “In a lot of cases there’s only one or maybe two on each individual part. They really have to be on their ‘A’ game and willing to carry a melody. It can be a little bit nerve wracking for high school kids. Sometimes they’d like to be in the mix, rather than a featured performer.”
An anonymous donation made a few years ago for new uniforms was put to use this year, said Jones.
The students hard work led to the transformation that warranted an upgrade in uniforms. The new digs feature the school’s red and white colors and “Saugus” on the back of the jacket. The pants are black with a red stripe along the seam. They come equipped with new hats. But Jones said new shoes and accessories are still needed.
Now that the band is striving, Jones hopes to bring the high schoolers and middle schoolers to see an Open Rehearsal of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the famous cellist at Boston Symphony Orchestra in October. He anticipates costs to be upwards of $500, he said.
Vicky Wiegman, owner of Banana Splitz, said she is also a member of the Saugus Band Parents Association.
“When the opportunity came up to send high school and middle school band members to see the Boston Symphony Orchestra, we were trying to find ways to fund it,” she said.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte
