ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Holy Name Catholic School is raising funds to give every student an opportunity to explore their musical talent.
The Holy Name Band started playing music in the early 1950s.
“I just like playing my instrument because I like music a lot,” said sixth grader Erik Anderson. “It’s my first time doing it and I enjoy it a lot.”
However, Holy Name has been partnering with Escanaba’s school band since 1997. That involves regular trips to Escanaba Area Public Schools for lessons and rehearsals.
“The first day, we didn’t know anyone,” Holy Name student Benjamin said. “Now, we pretty much know everyone there.”
While the partnership has been a great benefit to Holy Name Catholic School, Principal Nathan Vande Hey says certain struggles come with not having an in-house band program.
“There are 22 kids that are currently going to Esky,” he explained. “There’s a gathering of the kids, the bringing them over, the coming back, and it takes about 90 minutes of instruction away.”
“When we go to Esky, we have to miss a class,” added student AJ Wils. “We usually have to make up work.”
For Holy Name’s 2024 – 2025 Annual Drive, the school aims to raise $80,000 to reinstate its own band program for grades 5 – 12.
“Some of that’s salary and bringing in a band teacher, but some of it’s going to be getting some instruments together,” Vande Hey explained. “We surveyed our families and about 27% said they felt this could be a hardship. We want to have really good instruments that would be available for families in need, so we’ll take donations for instruments if they’re in good to excellent condition. We’ll need to buy the bigger things you don’t just carry home in your backpack—timpani, xylophones, marimbas, big bass drums.”
In addition to allowing more students to play instruments, Vande Hey says it would provide a more cohesive school band experience.
“It just frees up our system a little bit,” he said. “We’re very appreciative of all the work that we’ve had with Escanaba and that relationship, but we thought it would be a great opportunity for us to explore music here.”
Vande Hey believes “getting the band back together” would be a great addition to the local music community. He says the Annual Drive is a worthy investment in the students of Holy Name.
“In a classical school, we’re trying to form the whole person,” said Vande Hey. “Music and art and all these are essential ingredients in order for us to be successful.
Everybody can play an instrument, do their part well, and really feel part of that whole ensemble—which is, of course, a great lesson on life. We can’t do everything, but what part can we play in God’s divine plan?”
To learn more about the Holy Name Catholic School Annual Drive, click here. Donations can be made online at holynamecrusaders.com/donations. Donations sent by mail can be addressed to the school at 409 South 22nd Street in Escanaba.
