School raises $250,000 in two days to compete at BOA Grand National Championships and honor heroic director

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 11, 2009 At the outset, it was an emotional
show dedicated to a past generation's sacrifices. The show became even
more emotional and the impact more immediate when the American Fork H.S.
Marching Band dedicated the show to assistant band director Heather
Christensen, who died in October while trying to keep a bus carrying
about 50 band students from crashing.
American Fork has won three marching band competitions since the tragedy
a month ago, and now $250,000 donated over two days will send the show
for one last, heartfelt performance weekend at the Bands of America Grand
National Championships in Indianapolis.
The band designed its 2009 production around the theme of heroes,
dedicated to the generation who had grown up during the Great Depression
and went on to defend our country in World War II. Looking back at a
remarkable show and the students who had dug so deep and grown so close
after a tragic band bus accident, the band very much wanted to go to
Grand Nationals.
Throughout the fall band season, the students had worn their
grandparents' names on dog tags. After the accident, they added a dog
tag bearing Christensen's name. Their performances have been solid and
inspired ever since, and the band and community decided they should
perform one more weekend on a national stage. However, the band
had not originally planned for the trip, given the state of the economy
and tight family budgets. American Fork determined the trip this weekend
would require raising about $250,000 for travel and expenses.
American Fork announced its goal Sunday, noting a need to raise the
entire amount by Tuesday evening to allow for plans to be made. Through
a number of private donations coming from individuals across the
community and the country, as well as corporate donations, the band
announced Tuesday afternoon that they had reached their goal. Music for
All put American Fork High School in the Grand National Championships
preliminary contest schedule for Friday afternoon. If the band advances,
it could perform Saturday for semi-finals and even Saturday evening for
finals.
"There are just a lot of things that have fallen into place that we
never anticipated when we started the season," said Dan Adams,
coordinator of the band dads. "We've had a wonderful outpouring of
support from all across the country. It's a real tribute to the
generosity of people, especially in these tough times."
Music for All is pleased that American Fork will be among the 90 bands
at the Bands of America Grand National Championships this week,
according to Music for All CEO Scott McCormick.
"Music for All's Bands of America championship series is about so much
more than competition. It's about hard work, teamwork, musicianship,
leadership, and learning about yourself and about life in the company of
other students, teachers and families who care about music and one
another," says McCormick. "American Fork has truly exemplified those
attitudes this year as they've pulled together and come through a
terrible tragedy with grace and courage."
Music for All (MFA) is
one of the nation's largest and most influential
organizations in support of active music-making. Headquartered in
Indianapolis, MFA uniquely combines regional and national music-event
programming with awareness campaigns and advocacy aimed at expanding
access to music in schools and communities, including significant
support of the IPS music education programs. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
educational organization, MFA's programs include 25-plus annual events,
including the Music for All National Festival, the Music for All Summer
Symposium, the Bands of America Grand National marching band
championships and Regional marching band championships across the
country. Learn more at www.musicforall.org.
See more information about the Bands of America
Grand National Championships on Marching.com.
Text and photo courtesy of Music For All.
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