Area Marching Band Performances to Benefit School Band Program in Texas With Annual "Fill the Drum" Event on Sept. 13

Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50's Middle School Marching Wildcats band will join the Warren Township High School Marching Blue Devils and the Viking Middle School band from Gurnee District 56 to perform their marching routine in exhibition style at 7 p.m., September 13 at the Warren Township High School Stadium O'Plaine campus football stadium, 500 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee.

Admission is free, but each year band directors from the three school organizations choose a beneficiary of donations collected in drums before the performances. This year's recipient will be the high school band program in Kingwood, Texas. There was more than five feet of water in KHS, reaching the second floor. The music wing, located on the first floor, suffered the most damage. Carolyn Awe, a band director at Woodland, raised awareness about the losses in Kingwood as she has family ties to the school. Due to all the flooding and damage, Kingwood students are being bused to another high school in that district for their education this year.

Woodland Middle School Band Director Elise Matusek said, "We try to instill in our band students here in Gurnee that band is family. Whether it's in our own schools, across town, across the state, or across the country, band is one huge family. Please show the Kingwood, Texas band family we are here to help."

A video about the damage at the Texas school is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S-zlVK8pQQ&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop

In the past, drums have been filled with donations to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, support for the American Red Cross, various cancer societies, the Iowa Flood Relief Fund, the Warren Food Pantry, and animal shelters. The drum may be filled with cash or checks made out to Warren Band Boosters.

Those in attendance will hear familiar current and past dance songs performed by Woodland Middle School students. Songs will include "Dancing in the Streets," "Java Dance," and "Shut Up and Dance."

Woodland Marching Wildcats are directed by Elise Matusek, Carolyn Awe and Greg Zalapi.

For more information please contact Elise Matusek at (847) 856-3670.