BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Telegraph Staff Writer
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—The Keystone Heights High School Band will play at the musical performance assessment state concert for the first time in 33 years on April 29.
Band Director Justin Coker said the accomplishment, in addition to other achievements by this year’s band, was attained not only by his team members but also by financial support from the Lake Region community.
Coker, now in his fifth year leading the band, said that after growing pains and steady improvement during his first two years on the job, things took off in Years 3 and 4.
“Last year, we’d gotten our first excellent (rating) in a few years, at least since I’d been here,” he said, “and they’ve even got better this year, and it’s been growing a whole bunch as well.”
Coker said the band has performed at the Daytona International Speedway and the MotoSurf competition in Keystone Heights, in addition to other community appearances.
The director said the most significant factor leading to the band’s improvement over the last year has been the community’s financial support.
Coker said the support, highlighted by the Clay Electric Foundation, Friends of Keystone Heights High School and the Band Boosters, enabled him to upgrade the band’s tubas and percussion sections.
“We spent a couple thousand just making sure the percussion is where it is,” he said, “and we spent several thousand this year on it as well.”
Coker said donations of instruments have also helped the students.
“One of our students has been using almost a brand-new professional line horn that someone donated to the school,” he said, “and I have a few of my students using some other instruments that were donated to the school as well.”
Coker added that because of monetary donations, he has been able to purchase quality instruments for his students to play.
He said the contributions also finance the group’s trips to appearances like the one to Daytona earlier this year and the upcoming state concert in Gainesville.
Coker said he appreciates the efforts of community members who volunteer in the band’s concession stand during football games.
He also thanked Principal Laurie Burke and former school board member Tina Bullock for their support, in addition to band booster members Julie Carlson, Kimberly Parker, Sarah McMillan and Barbara Ross.
