Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Foreigner cares—you should too

Budget cuts may be looming for our music programs, but the group is giving one local school’s choir a chance to shine—as well as donating money to their school

Foreigner

Let’s hope someone from Brian Sandoval’s office is attending next week’s Foreigner performance at Green Valley Ranch.

The Clark County School District has a nationally recognized music program (hell, some of our schools have won Grammys, for cryin’ out loud!), but the district is currently contemplating slashing that same program to pieces. Why? Governor Sandoval’s proposed budget requires the district to cut $411 million. Needless to say, if those cuts are allowed to happen, that music program will be a shell of what it is today.

If anyone wants to see the caliber of talent our district is turning out, head over to Green Valley Ranch on April 29. The Basic High School Concert Choir will provide the wall of sound behind Foreigner’s 1984 classic, “I Want to Know What Love Is,” part of Foreigner’s charity partnership with the Grammy Association.

It should be quite a memorable evening for those kids, but should also serve as a sober reminder of how important music can be. I mean, this is a memory of a lifetime for a few lucky students and their parents, who no doubt listened to Foreigner growing up. But it’s also an opportunity for locals to see the potential stars of tomorrow. Just look at some of the musical talents this area has produced of late—Ne-Yo, Panic! at the Disco and Escape the Fate among them.

And you can’t tell me music isn’t any less important for those same politicians who want to decimate schools—and, consequently, music education. How about Harry Reid’s fundraiser in his quest to defeat Sharron Angle, in which Sheryl Crow and three of the Killers showed up? Think that kind of thing factors into the amount of money he raises? Yeah, me too.

Oh, and Foreigner is donating $1,000 to the choir as part of the evening. And they’re not even locals. Here’s to an evening that shames our state into caring.

Foreigner, April 29, 8 p.m. Tickets are $25-$55. Grand Events Center at Green Valley Ranch, 547-5300. Stationcasinos.com.Foreigner, April 29, 8 p.m. Tickets are $25-$55. Grand Events Center at Green Valley Ranch, 547-5300. Stationcasinos.com.

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