When I was a young man I used to play the French horn in marching bands. This has left me with a lifelong goal of doing something to support marching bands and the young musicians who play in them. Last fall I wrote about my goals in a local newspaper, and got enthusiastic expressions of interest from many citizens. But no one wanted to step up to the plate and taake charge. So I decided I would have to be the “Little Red Hen” myself.

Here’s my idea: I’d like to initiate an annual band festival in Kitsap, to provide a chance for youth bands to come and compete with each other, and have a great time doing it. As presently conceived, the festival would run three days, with marching band competitions on Friday, jazz competitions on Saturday, and Sunday reserved for performances by choral and other groups, possibly including folk music, barber shop, etc.

A band festival would promote interest in the music our kids are playing, which doesn’t always get as much attention as it deserves. And music is part of the educational programs at the schools featuring these bands. But let’s not forget the important side benefits: the thrill of competition, and an appreciation of the value of hard work and discipline. You’ve seen how hard the kids up in North Kitsap worked to go to Carnegie Hall last year.

A band festival could be a huge addition to the tourist industry in Kitsap, which means increased profits to the many businesses that depend directly or indirectly on tourism, and of course more jobs for local workers.

There are some major questions to be addressed, the first of which is where to hold such an event. Since most youth bands are associated with schools, I intend to go out to the five school districts to present these ideas in the coming months, and ask them, in cooperation with other interested groups and individuals, to formulate proposals indicating what they could bring to the table to facilitate such a festival.

Availability of outdoor stadiums, indoor concert halls, parking, tourist accommodations, and so on, would be important. Planning the festival to coincide with an existing tourist activity, such as the Viking festival in Poulsbo, or the Fathoms O’ Fun event in Port Orchard, might be desirable.

Holding the festival in mid to late August would seem preferable, to take advantage of the fine weather, the seasonal flood of tourists, and avoiding interference with school schedules.

The remaining questions to be answered are how and who. Both, understandably, are closely linked. As previously mentioned, I plan to ask the five school districts to consider the idea and, if they decide to participate, to formulate proposals to hold the event in their area. A committee would then be convened to review the proposals and select the most attractive and practicable. From then on, support from both the selected school district and the area business enterprises would be sought.

I will be pleased to provide the overall leadership, to the extent I can. But I certainly can’t make it happen alone. It will take the unstinting cooperation of individuals from the school districts, the tourism industry, and of course the band members and their parents.

Given the right spirit of work and cooperation, I anticipate a really great musical event for Kitsap, hopefully starting in 2005 — one which could grow to international fame in the years ahead.

Interested? Contact me at billbamb@earthlink.net.

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