In less than two weeks, you can help a local band raise money for the trip of a lifetime – a chance to be in the national spotlight.
And there's a history-making twist to this story.
With each warm-up note, the Clark Montessori steel drum band gets closer to its goal: a concert to help raise $100,000 for a trip to the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on New Year's Day.
These musicians play with the joy and passion that comes from looking ahead to a band trip to sunny California.
But, this band is not going to the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Half the money it's raising is for another band to go: 17 members of the marching band from the Ohio State School for the Blind in Columbus.
That's right – a blind marching band, the only one in the nation – and the first in the history of the Rose Bowl Parade.
The concert is the brainchild of teacher Bruce Weil, who lived at OSSB while in grad school.
His students will play in the concert with OSSB students.
And Bruce Weil hopes they'll make good music – and learn a life lesson.
And it seems Weil may have accomplished that goal.
So, come New Year’s morning, if the finances work out, the OSSB marching band will make history on national television.
And the Clark Montessori band will be at home – watching.
If you want to help these bands make history, the fundraising concert is November 18 at Clark Montessori School.
It's $6 for a single ticket and $20 for four tickets.
Weil says the Ohio State School for the Blind marching band is within $10,000 of its goal.
