Junior French Horn player Ashley Meade and her family hosted visitors from the Funairi band on their last visit.
The Martin County High School Band will welcome visitors from Funairi High School in Japan as the two bands combine for an exchange of cultures and a musical collaboration. This is the fourth time Funairi High School has visited Martin County and it will be the last time that their director, Mr. Tsuneyoshi Kasaoka, will join them as he will retire this year.
Saturday, March 24 at 1:00pm the two bands will combine for a concert at the South Fork High School Auditorium where the event was relocated because of a fire at the Martin County High School Auditorium. First Mr. Kasaoka will direct his band in several selections; then Martin County’s Director of Bands, Ms. Michelle Brown, will conduct her band before the two groups combine for the finale.
The Funairi Band is one of Japan’s top high school band programs and is playing to sold out audiences on their United States tour. The Martin County High School program also has a tradition of excellence, recently extending their run of straight superiors to 32 years with their performance at District 13 M.P.A. Festival.
There will be concessions available and a silent auction prior to the concert beginning at 11:30am. Some of the items up for bidding include an electric guitar autographed by country music star Chris Cagle and an NFL football autographed by Rondé Barber. The concert starts at 1:00pm. Tickets are $5 and are available from any band member or email Tigerregiment@gmail.com for reservations. All proceeds from the concert and silent auction will go to offset the band’s expenses. Several of the major items will be open for bidding online prior to the event.
