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Boosters raising funds for growing MHS band
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The Manteca High Band Boosters are hoping to raise enough money to take care of some needs for next year.

The list is lengthy while success – the band continued to perform at many school-wide activities, around the community while attending various competitions – has put a strain on the music department’s budget.

The MHS band, for starters, has grown in recent years, going from 26 students in 2008 to an estimated 100 in the fall.

“We don’t have 100 band uniforms for the 100 members either,” said band director Anthony Dahl, who is need of more uniforms.

He added that the program has been borrowing and patching up old instruments, with more instruments needed for next year.

The all-you-can-eat rib dinner by the boosters on Saturday, April 27, could help the program through these financial tough times.

Dahl provided a rundown on the needs for a band of 100 students, including:

• Four to five tubas and four to five sousaphone. The MHS band has two tubas and one sousaphone in working order.

• Three to four euphoniums. “We have five but only two work,” he said.

• Six to eight trombones. The band has three and one is broken.

• Four to six French horns. “We have two that work, but two are broken,” Dahl said.

• Three baritone saxophones. MHS has three but two are broken.

• Four tenor saxophones. “We have one that works and two that ‘sort of’ work,” said Dahl, who is also in need of two piccolos.

He indicated that students are interested playing all of the above instruments. “But (we) have no working instruments to give them,” Dahl said.

In addition, he noted that drum heads should be replaced every two or three years but the marching percussion is the same ones since 2005 and concert percussion have held up since 2008.

The rib feed will be held at the MRPS Hall from 6 p.m. to midnight. Cost is $25 per person in advance, $30 at the door.

For more information, call 209-823-0743.