Band parents announce instrument fund drive and holiday concerts

The Canfield Band Parents have started a fundraising drive aimed solely at purchasing new instruments for the growing bands.

The list of instruments needed in the coming years includes percussion, woodwinds and brass instruments that totals more than $30,000. The funds raised by the Canfield band Parents, Inc. are used the supplement the needs of the Canfield band program grades 5-12 above and beyond the monies received from the school district.

“Our traditional fundraising events provide some monies in our budget for new instruments, but with a growing number of kids in the various bands the needs are greater in the coming years,” said Dr. Rajiv Taneja, the Band Parents’ current President.

The campaign is run under their annual “Friends of the Canfield Bands” fundraising program which is aimed at family and individual donations. The proceeds from this year’s Friends campaign will go solely to instrument purchases. While they do not list a specific dollar amount, they are seeking a high percentage of participation from their band families. With more than 400 families in the grade 5-12 band programs, percentage participation is a great multiplier. This campaign is in parallel with their on-going corporate sponsorship program.

Anyone interested in more information on either the “Friends” or the corporate campaigns, or making a donation, can simply log on to the website at www.canfieldbands.com.

The Canfield Band Parents, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) entity, so all of the contributions are fully tax deductible.

In addition, the second week of December will be a musical one at Canfield High School. On Dec. 9 the Canfield Village Middle School fifth- and sixth-grade bands will host the annual winter concert. Dec. 10 will feature the middle school seventh- and eighth-grade bands, followed on Dec. 11 with the High School’s concert and symphonic band concerts.

Each concert takes place in the Canfield High School auditorium and starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free and everyone from the community is encouraged to come for some holiday music.