MHS Band Travels To Play for Katrina Victims in New Orleans

Mehlville High School band students left Wednesday for New Orleans, LA to perform for students at schools affected by Hurricane Katrina. 

Rather than go to a competition for their annual spring trip, band directors and students wanted to do a service to the area destroyed by a hurricane in 2005. 

"We wanted to play for them and get them back interested in music, the trip is more about being a good person," said Assistant Band Director Tom Smyth. "Instead of going to a contest and earning a plaque, we're spending money to help others. They'll interact with students their age who have lost a lot."

The band will travel to Eleanor McMain Secondary School and Langston Hughes Academy, performing songs and visiting with students. The band will return on Sunday. 

David Pulphus, a music teacher at Lanston Hughes Academy, is a Mehlville alum and helped organize the trip with Smyth and Director of Bands Tony Brown. 

"I hope this trip will show the students that people have had it a lot worse," Brown said. 

The trip correlates with (Enriching our Neighborhood Through Generous Actions, Growth and Empowerment), a district-wide service project that focuses on linking education to volunteerism. 

"I'm just excited to help in New Orleans and inspire the people to love music again," Savanna Heiney said. Heiney is a sophomore bassoonist in the band and said she is looking forward to the bus ride with her friends. 

The band will be playing songs from their upcoming performance April 19 with famed composer and conductor Frank Ticheli. 

Approximately 70 students and 10 volunteers will make the 11-hour trip to New Orleans. 

Aside from performing, the students will visit the aquarium and WWII museum, take tours of the lower 9th ward and go on a dinner and jazz cruise.

The band will also be stopping at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and the University of New Orleans to perform for their band directors and get advice.