Around Oakley: Freedom Band Boosters play mom to all the school's musicians

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

Last weekend while football players practiced skirmishes out on the field, Freedom High School marching band and color guard students dedicated long hours to practicing their routines at its annual March-a-thon. Each year the bands get together for a weekend of workouts and practices to get ready for the fall marching band competitions, parades and home football games.

The students dedicate a lot of time in learning their instruments and choreographed routines, but behind every talented student on the field or in the parade are the booster clubs that help them get to games, raise funds and supply them with uniforms.

For the Freedom Band Boosters, that includes helping nearly 100 students in getting organized for not only this season, but also for a full year's worth of activities.

"Basically, we're a team of parent volunteers checking to make sure students are dressed, hydrated and fed," Annette Lewis, treasurer for the band boosters said. "In other words, we're a group of parents who parent the whole group."

One of the most recognizable bands in a high school is usually the marching band. This is the band you see at parades like the Oakley Almond Festival in September or the one that is out performing during football games. Along with the marching band, the Freedom High School Band Boosters also work with the concert, symphonic, jazz and orchestra bands, as well as the color guard throughout the year.

Just like everyone else who seems to be in need this year, the band boosters work throughout the year to raise money to help offset the cost of uniform repairs, transportation costs and feeding the students when they go to away parades and activities.

"We haven't done a lot of fundraising because there are so many groups on campus that do fundraising," Lewis said.

Last weekend the group did a small fundraiser at the March-a-thon. Since they were feeding the kids anyway, which they do for free, they invited families and friends to pay a small fee and enjoy the barbecue and a little entertainment by watching the kids run through their drills.

"We don't make that much on this, but it is fun for the families and friends to see what the kids are doing," Lewis said.

During the year the group also hosts bake sales, sometimes sells items at football games and maybe holds a silent auction or two.

While fundraising is important to the group, the primary concern of the boosters is to support the kids. For Lewis, one of the most important jobs of the group is to supply water for the band members through the performances.

"Shows like the Almond Festival can be very hot, and the kids can get dehydrated quickly so we make sure they get their fill of bottled water throughout the parade," she said.

The boosters are just one support team for each Freedom band and color guard. There are also separate student councils for the band and the color guard.

For Freedom Band Booster Vice President Lisa Harvard Brizendine, being a "band groupie" for the past four years while her son Brandon has been playing trumpet in the marching band and guitar in the jazz band, has been a great experience. She is impressed with the talent and dedication of all the students.

"The Freedom High School band is a great resource in the community," Harvard Brizendine said. "The kids in band really work together to learn new songs and perfect their sections. "

Reach Roni Gehlke at ourbackyard@comcast.net.