New Uniforms for Cleveland HS Band
Donation protected
The story of the Cleveland Marching Band is a story that anyone can get behind. It started with major cutbacks for arts funding across the state of California in the early 2000s and resulted in the loss of a band director position at Grover Cleveland Charter High School in Reseda, CA. For most band programs, this is where the story ends. For Cleveland, this is where it begins.
The students at Cleveland High School continued to rehearse daily throughout the fall without an instructor. They taught themselves their instruments, their music, and and even how to march. Every year, the band continued to play all home and away football games and competed in local community parades. As each year passed, the band diminished in size as not having a full time instructor took its toll.
The students and parents rallied together and convinced their new principal to hire a full time music teacher and in the summer of 2015, they hired me. When we met for band camp before the 2015-2016 school year started, there were nine eager students in the band. One year later, the marching band has more than quadrupled in size and in addition we have created a Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, Beginning Band, and even a Ukulele course.
The perseverance of the students has paid off, and this year they will be performing a competitive field show for the first time in seven years. This rapid growth has invigorated the student body, the staff, and even the surrounding community of Reseda. Other schools have been lending instruments to help foster our growth and our administration is finding funding wherever they can. Our rapid growth however has also put a massive strain on our inventory of instruments and uniforms. As a result, I am seeking grants and donations to replace old equipment and add to our supply of instruments and uniforms.
Cleveland currently has a supply of 40 uniforms ranging in sizes to accommodate students of all builds. We currently have 38 uniforms checked out. Most of the uniforms do not fit the students to whom they are checked out and are in desperate need of repair. At the rate that this band is growing, it would be reasonable to assume that in three years the band will have more than 100 students. We have recently completed the process of setting up an estimate for our desired uniforms and they will come out to just under $45,000. The band is also in need of additional marching instruments and funding to replace instruments that are beyond repair.
By donating to our cause, you will keep music free for all students at Cleveland High School and help to support the continued growth of our program. We hope you'll consider donating whatever you can.
The students at Cleveland High School continued to rehearse daily throughout the fall without an instructor. They taught themselves their instruments, their music, and and even how to march. Every year, the band continued to play all home and away football games and competed in local community parades. As each year passed, the band diminished in size as not having a full time instructor took its toll.
The students and parents rallied together and convinced their new principal to hire a full time music teacher and in the summer of 2015, they hired me. When we met for band camp before the 2015-2016 school year started, there were nine eager students in the band. One year later, the marching band has more than quadrupled in size and in addition we have created a Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, Beginning Band, and even a Ukulele course.
The perseverance of the students has paid off, and this year they will be performing a competitive field show for the first time in seven years. This rapid growth has invigorated the student body, the staff, and even the surrounding community of Reseda. Other schools have been lending instruments to help foster our growth and our administration is finding funding wherever they can. Our rapid growth however has also put a massive strain on our inventory of instruments and uniforms. As a result, I am seeking grants and donations to replace old equipment and add to our supply of instruments and uniforms.
Cleveland currently has a supply of 40 uniforms ranging in sizes to accommodate students of all builds. We currently have 38 uniforms checked out. Most of the uniforms do not fit the students to whom they are checked out and are in desperate need of repair. At the rate that this band is growing, it would be reasonable to assume that in three years the band will have more than 100 students. We have recently completed the process of setting up an estimate for our desired uniforms and they will come out to just under $45,000. The band is also in need of additional marching instruments and funding to replace instruments that are beyond repair.
By donating to our cause, you will keep music free for all students at Cleveland High School and help to support the continued growth of our program. We hope you'll consider donating whatever you can.
Organizer
Cameron Yassaman
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
