Local bands offer a weeklong music festival to raise funds

The Capital High School marching band has worn the same uniforms for about 10 years. Drums have busted while being played.

Many middle- and high-school music programs in Santa Fe don't have the resources to be competitive.

Sergio Manriquez, Capital's first-year band director, has even had to pay for sheet music and festival entrance fees with his own money.

So this week, Manriquez and Elliot Oppenheim, a local musician who volunteered to help the Capital band this year, have put together a weeklong music festival to raise money for Capital's program. Seven different groups are scheduled to play nightly, today through Sunday.

``One of the concepts that we realized is that students don't have the opportunity to hear these other musical groups,'' Manriquez said. ``We started saying, `Well, I'm in a group; maybe I can get my group to play.' Then we started thinking this could be a good fundraiser as well.''

There are community organizations already doing a lot to bolster music programs in Santa Fe, Manriquez said, and the district has a task force examining what else can be done. But, he said, even with those efforts, the programs are still struggling.

``We have so many needs,'' Manriquez said. ``This will help us with some of those needs.''

The money also will help pay for trips to festivals and workshops, the fun part of band that attracts members, Manriquez said.

Beyond this week's events, Manriquez and other band directors also are trying to form partnerships with more community groups.

They are soliciting volunteers to teach in the schools -- anything to generate student interest.

Contact John Sena at 995-3812 or jsena@sfnewmexican.com.

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