Thursday, March 19, 2009 | 4:43 p.m.
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For more information, visit www.lasvegasmarchingarts.org
A nonprofit music group wants to assemble a marching band in hopes of playing at the 2011 Rose Parade.
Las Vegas Marching Arts will audition high school and college students in hopes of making it to California’s Tournament of Roses Parade, before the annual Pasadena Tournament of the Roses football game.
The nonprofit group hopes to assemble a 200-member Southern Nevada Marching Honor Band to apply to march at the parade.
Founder Randy Warner said he hopes to form the band and apply to march in the parade by this June.
On March 28, auditions will be held at Mojave High School, 5302 Goldfield Street, in North Las Vegas.
Woodwind and percussion tryouts are at 9 a.m. Brass and color-guard are at 10:30 a.m. Warner encouraged baton twirlers especially to audition.
He said the marching band would play a medley of Rat Pack hits and wear costumes inspired by that era.
“It’s going to be a salute to Las Vegas,” he said. “And the students will all be goodwill ambassadors for Las Vegas.”
With the Clark County School District budget slashed, music programs at schools are in threat of elimination, he said.
The LVMA is an out-of-school opportunity for students to showcase their talents.
Warner said LVMA will hold a “Spring Music Fling” fundraiser June 6 at UNLV in the Student Union Ballroom from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
He said the organization needs about $30,000 to send the band to the Rose Parade, if it is accepted, to avoid having the students pay their own ways.
Mojave High School is Rattler Nation, but really it’s home to underdogs.
Minutes from the Nellis Air Force Base the school is nestled near Commerce Street and West Ann Road, an area littered with foreclosed homes.
The school is attended by many students who are underprivileged or at-risk. After Mojave failed to meet No Child Left Behind standards it became one of five Clark County Schools determined to do a 180.
In order to make the turnaround a reality, Mojave has implemented new faculty, extended the school day by 20 minutes and is geared towards boosting school spirit.
“The problem we have right now is that our children aren’t proud of their own school,” Mojave principal Antonio Rael explained an August interview. “When our children begin to take pride in our school, our community will follow.”
- Year built:
- 1997
- Mascot:
- Rattle Snake
- Principal (Year Hired):
- Antonio Rael (2001)
- School motto:
- “Promoting Achievement, Creating Success”
- Mission Statement:
- “The Mission of the Mojave High School Community is to provide a safe learning environment that will empower students to develop excellence, pride, respect, and skills necessary for future success.”
- Enrollment:
- Approximately 2,000
- School Report Card:
- 2010-2011
Compiled by Gregan Wingert
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