Students band together in harmony

Band students from fifth to 12th grades will perform together tonight in the Carson City School District's annual Band-o-Rama.

"It fluctuates from year to year, but I'd estimate there's about 800 students playing," said Fremont Elementary School band teacher Sandra Irvin, who is helping plan the event.

The event, starting at 7 p.m., is free at Carson High School and lasts from 45 minutes to a full hour.

"The purpose of Band-o-Rama is to give the public an overview of the band program from the time the students start in fifth grade through high school, not only what students learn, but also what's available to them," Irvin said.

It will start with the bands from all six elementary schools. They will play six pieces, one of which is called "The Concerto for Pots and Pans."

"It has the band students playing, and there's a part for pots with big wooden spoons to be played," Irvin said.

The elementary school performers will be followed by the middle school students then the high school students.

"It's good for the fifth-graders to hear what the middle-school students are playing and what the high-school students are playing," she said.

In a final culmination, all the students will play a piece together called the "American Spirit March," a combination of several patriotic pieces.

Irvin says the event is motivating for the younger students, who otherwise never have the opportunity to perform with the older students, and hear "where they may be in a couple of years."

There will be two booths set up at Band-o-Rama. The first will be a donation table to benefit the Larry G. Holloway Memorial Music Scholarship. Holloway was a music teacher for more than 20 years in the Carson City School District and died of leukemia in 2002.

"Each year, the scholarship committee awards a scholarship to at least one deserving CHS senior who exhibits a strong commitment and applied talent in music," said his widow Judy Holloway.

"We have awarded a total of $8,000 to 14 Carson High School seniors since 2003."

Donations to the fund can be made at Band-o-Rama or sent to the LGH Memorial Music Scholarship, Carson High School, 1111 N. Saliman Road, Carson City, 89702.

The second booth will benefit the band at Eagle Valley Middle School. Bottles of water will be sold to benefit scholarships for band camp, as well as band trips.

Also coming up this month is the all-city choral performance, scheduled for 7 p.m. March 9 at the Community Center. The four choirs from the elementary school and two from the middle school will perform. The event is also free.

"It really is a lovely time for the kids to get in a bigger ensemble and sing," Irvin said.

-- Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.

If you go

WHAT: Band-o-Rama

WHEN: 7 tonight

WHERE: Carson High School, 1111 N. Saliman Road