By Katy Frantz
The Carmel High School Marching Greyhounds have gone to the streets in order to raise money for a trip to the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, Calif. As the 2012 Bands of America Grand National Champions, the band will perform in the parade on Jan. 1, 2014.
To reduce expenses students had the option to perform for a one-hour shift at 110 W. Main St. in downtown Carmel beginning July 5 through Oct. 12.
The weekend street performances are from 6 to 10 p.m. Students earned $10 per hour performed (courtesy of the City of Carmel), and all the earnings go toward band fees. Any additional tips students receive can be used toward band fees or pocketed.
The City of Carmel had been hoping for years for performers willing to play live music on the streets to add to the ambiance of the district and cater to those people visiting stores and restaurants downtown.
“When I learned that the Carmel High School band was attempting to raise funds to support their trip to Pasadena, Calif. for the 2014 Rose Bowl Parade, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to start a tradition as well as help the students raise money,” Mayor Brainard said in a statement.
Cameron Rhea and Nicholas Stark, who have been in the band together since sixth grade, will participate. The sophomores play the alto saxophone, and Stark also can play the baritone saxophone.
Stark chose the saxophone because of his love of jazz music. Rhea, on the other hand, said he had not initially planned to join band his freshman year.
“There was a hole – they didn’t have enough saxophones – so I joined,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun ever since.”
Since performing on the street is not mandatory Rhea chose to perform four times. Stark said he probably performed 30 times since August.
“I like to practice improv when I’m out here, because people come up and ask me what song I’m playing,” Stark said. “Then I can tell them I just made it up.”
