Frayed pride: Lake Zurich HS band wants new uniforms

Imagine the embarrassment of splitting a pants' seam during a half-time show performance.

Now multiply that times 203.

That's the number of Lake Zurich High School marching band members next year whose uniforms are falling apart, according to band parents who are pushing the district to buy replacements.

Band members have used duct tape, on-the-spot hemming and frequent refitting to keep the 18-year-old uniforms going. Roughly 13 percent of the 172 uniforms are no longer usable, parents said.

"The typical life of a band uniform is about 13 years," said band parent Wheeler Chapman of Lake Zurich. "These things are five years past their life expectancy."

Band Director Josh Thompson said there aren't enough uniforms to support the needs of a growing program.

The entire drum line has been wearing warm-up suits for performances for the past four years.

"With 203 marching next year, if you take away the color guard, we got about 180 students that need uniforms," Thompson said. "We are probably short at least 35 uniforms."

Thompson said having a uniform look for the entire marching band, including the color guard and drum line, is important for the school's image.

"We're part of the curriculum," he said. "It's an important part of school spirit and community."

In recent years, Lake Zurich High's marching band has gained international prominence.

The 135-member band participated in London's 22nd annual New Year's Day Parade, in front of 1 million spectators and millions more watching on television.

"The band is a source of big-time pride for the school, for the community," Chapman said. "We have by far the largest volunteer marching band in the area. It's not even looking the part. We don't want the band out there in street clothes."

Lake Zurich Unit District 95 school board members recently said they support the idea and would find a way to get money for the new uniforms with parents help. Yet, the district has not set any money aside in its budget for the coming school year.

Band parents have collected $14,000 through fund-raisers and pledged to raise up to $25,000 in total toward the purchase of new uniforms, which would cost roughly $80,000. They are asking the district to fund the rest.

"We are also looking for corporate or private sponsors," Chapman said. "We could hang signs on the football field during games."

District 95 would have to authorize such corporate signs, which they have done in the past for other sponsors.

Chapman said he doesn't expect to have the money for new uniforms for the upcoming football season.

"We're hoping to get them for the fall of 2009," he said.