Striking Up the Band for a Fund-Raiser

As motorists honked their horns in appreciation, an ensemble of Cypress High School Band and Pageantry members played music Thursday afternoon at the busy intersection of Valley View Street and Katella Avenue. “We should be holding out the instrument cases to collect money,” band director Darlene Hale quipped.

The impromptu musical performance was to call attention to the band’s fund-raising drive for a trip to New York for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Cypress group is one of only six high school bands invited to march in the nationally televised parade.

“It’s costing $850 per student, and all our band and pageantry members have been selling candy to raise money,” Hale said.

“We’re also asking for donations from businesses and the public, and that money will be equally divided among the students,” he said. “We’ll have 186 students going to New York, of which 48 are pageantry members. There also will be parents and chaperons--about 230 people total.”

The band members playing at Valley View and Katella stood by a large sign that for several weeks has urged donations. “With other people’s help, the trip won’t be so expensive,” said Christa Mathis, 17, a senior and pageantry captain.

An unusual swap arrangement will help to hold down expenses. Last February, band members from a high school in Ridgewood, N.J., stayed with Cypress band members during a California music competition. Hale said the New Jersey families are now reciprocating.

“We’ll be staying some nights in Ridgewood, which is just across the river from New York City,” he said. “Our band also will perform jointly with the Ridgewood band in a parade there the day after Thanksgiving.”

Cypress band members said they are eager to make the trip. “It’s going to be an exciting trip--a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Jared Johnson, 17, a senior and co-drum major.

Pam Lesher, a parent who is president of the Band and Pageantry Boosters, said the students have raised about $50,000 so far. “It’s not too late to give, and we are especially encouraging corporate donations,” Lesher said.

Shannon Nix, 16, a junior who is band president, said band and pageantry members are especially proud to be representing their hometown in the world-renowned parade.

“Cypress is a small city, but it’s going to get a lot of national attention in this parade,” Nix said. “We’re proud to be representative of Cypress in this parade. And it’s going to be a lot of fun!”

Donation information: (714) 220-4157; or write to the Cypress High Band and Pageantry, 9801 Valley View St., Cypress, CA 90630.