Grant funding secured by Senator Garlan Gudger’s office provides $5,000 for each public school in his district for their band programs, which can use the funds for much-needed equipment, travel expenses or any other needs they have. Gudger presented checks to each school’s band directors and other staff and students on Monday, Sept. 8
MARION COUNTY — State Senator Garlan Gudger announced that he has secured grant funding for each public school’s band program in his district.
According to a press release from his office, the 18 presentations across all schools will total $90,000.
Gudger traveled to each school on Monday, Sept. 8, to present the checks at each school.
“Just like football teams, students in high school bands devote hours in summertime heat to practice and prepare for the upcoming season, and their hard work and commitment deserve reward,” Gudger said in his statement. “It’s an established fact that high school bands play a large role in the special feeling, atmosphere and tradition surrounding football season in our Sweet Home Alabama.”
One of the programs benefiting from this grant is Brilliant High School’s band, whose fate for this season was up in the air until recently.
“It’s awesome!” said Joshua Berryhill, who volunteers to help lead Brilliant’s band program. “With us being such a small school, and not having a funded music unit with us being volunteer, it’s very hard to keep things going.
“We’re in the process right now of trying to get a new drumline. All of our drums are very old, and we don’t even have enough for the drummers that we have right now. Our goal right now is to raise money, and it’s going to cost us about $8,000 to get a new drum set, so this $5,000 has already got us over hallway there!
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