Huron High School band director Larry Peterson stands near the music room with Diane Brandsrud, a member of the Huron Music Parents who is spearheading a project to replace the HHS Marching Band trailer. PHOTO BY MIKE CARROLL/PLAINSMAN
Huron Music Parents is organizing a fundraising campaign to purchase a new trailer for the Huron High School Marching Band to use when traveling to competitions and programs throughout the state.
The current trailer was purchased 15 years ago through a joint effort by Tiger Roar and Huron Music Parents. Since that time the trailer has served not only the marching band, but also the HHS drama department and its one-act play, the Huron track team and its pole vaulting camps, and the transportation of equipment for Huron music department’s Winter Festival and graduation performances.
These various uses, combined with storage issues, have left the old trailer in a sad state, said HHS band director Larry Petersen.
More than 30,000 people see the trailer every marching band season when they travel, and that’s not counting the thousands who see it while traveling along the Interstates, he said.
“Our current trailer is in disrepair and does little to promote Huron as a vibrant community,” Petersen said. “We’re trying to raise money through the parent organization because we don’t feel it’s the district’s responsibility to purchase this trailer for us.
“The trailer we have has been used and over-used,” Peteresn said. “It’s been well-loved, but it’s a sorry trailer we have now. We want to make sure Huron is well represented when we go out and travel.”
While repairs to the current trailer are an option, the changing needs of the marching band make it more advantageous to start new.
Petersen said the Huron Music Parents have set a goal of raising $25,000, which would purchase the trailer and customize the interior and exterior for HHS needs.
The trailer’s exterior would have a Huron Tigers logo, as well as permanently display the names of businesses that choose to make a “Sponsorship” donation of $2,500 or more. “It would be a rolling billboard for those businesses,” Petersen added.
Smaller donations from businesses and others would be publicly recognized at both indoor and outdoor exhibition performances, he said.
“It’s nice to have our own trailer and our own identity.” Petersen said. “We’d like to order it this summer. We’re hoping the community will help us sponsor this.”
The Huron Music Parents have played a crucial role in the music programs at HHS, Petersen said.
“A lot of their projects the public won’t see,” he said. “They provided a copy machine for the music department, purchase water for the kids on trips, help purchase breakfast for All State chorus and orchestra kids.
“They buy the music for the marching band show every year and they sponsor a music award every year,” Petersen added. “All the little projects they do add up to a lot.”
If anyone is interested in donating to this fund, donations can be sent to Huron High School in care of the Huron Tiger Marching Band.
For the complete article see the 03-24-2013 issue.
Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 03-24-2013 paper.
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