Manta Ray Band to stage free holiday concert

Saipan Southern High School’s Manta Ray Band will stage a free holiday concert on Dec. 21 at the school’s cafeteria.

William DeWitt, band musical director and conductor, said the special event will coincide with the school’s monthly PTA meeting and will start at 6pm.

The band, which is raising funds for its trip to the 2012 London Olympics, will also welcome donations from the audience.

DeWitt said the phenomenal talents of the fine arts department at SSHS will be on display in the cafeteria with festive decorations and seasonal backdrops created by students of the visual arts and ceramics classes under the guidance of their instructors.

He said there are over 150 Manta Ray musicians who will perform in the event starting with the beginning band with 45 members. They will be followed by the intermediate band students with 25 members, the advanced band with 50 members, and the award-winning “Advanced 2” band with 45 members who also prepared music for the musical play Rapunzeled.

DeWitt said aside from their performance in the 2012 London Olympics, the band will also play in an invitational concert at Queen Elizabeth’s conference center with four or five other elite high school bands from around the world.

The band is also expected to perform for current UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his four predecessors as the Olympic Torch is revealed in their presence. They will also perform in a concert on the grounds of the revered Westminster Abbey as well as play in at least one show for Olympic audiences at a sporting venue.

DeWitt said additional performances are being scheduled in Paris, France and in Switzerland following the Olympic performance.

“We have raised quite a bit of money in the last few months, but find ourselves earnestly needing to raise more! Within a week or so, we anticipate purchasing our air travel to London. Following that, we turn our attention to making the final payments for our ground package and Olympic accommodation fees while in the U.K. and Europe,” DeWitt said.

The musical director said that so far the band had raised close to $100,000 for their travel expenses, including the $1,500 fee charged to individual members.

Upcoming fundraisers for the band, he said, include a tree planting project, various concerts, solicitations from our generous business partners, and individual boosters throughout the CNMI and around the region.

DeWitt said the only community concert band, The Pacific Winds, will also be staging a concert on Dec. 22 with its 50 members, also at the same venue. Admission is free for the show which starts at 7pm. “But once again, donations are welcomed and encouraged!” added DeWitt.