 Raymundo Vizcarra, Fairfax’s Band Director at last year’s successful fundraiser. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
“I played with the Michigan State University Marching Band and St. Clare Shores [Michigan] Symphony Orchestra after graduation,” Mr. Prang said, “but it’s been a few years since I played, so I’ve been practicing like mad to regain my old skills. I’m doing pretty well, too.”
His chops might not be what they once were (whose are?), but he feels confident that regardless of any sour notes or fraks (an actual brass-playing term meaning a “cracked” note), the students’ chances of developing monster chops will be greatly increased by his risking a live stage appearance.
This concert’s proceeds will go – all of them – to fund the stuff that marching bands are made of, new uniforms for the marching band. More poignantly, though, the funds will also purchase chairs for the students to use in band class.
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Mr. Vizcarra feels lucky to have a band room at all. When he arrived eighteen months ago to resurrect the Fairfax Marching Lions from a 25-year oblivion, (see The Famed Fairfax Marching Lions Return! - July 13, 2006 for that story) he found, “Just desks,” he said, “no instruments, no bands; the class was a dumping ground for students no other teachers wanted in their classes.”
 West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Jeffrey Prang hosted last year’s benefit recital, but takes a far more vital role this year, placing mouthpiece to lips and grasping slide firmly in fingers tp play a duet with Mr. Vizcarra. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
A year and a half later, he shepherds a 60-member marching band (36 winds, 13 drums and 10 in the color guard) with a successful football season behind them and a victory in February’s Annual African History Month Parade. For that story, see Fairfax Marching Band Wins 1st Parade -March 15, 2007.
Not only that, filmmakers Doug Lantz and Dave Johnson have included the rise of the Fairfax Lions Marching Band in their documentary on the impact of the marching band experience on school kids called “From the 50 Yard Line”.
That film included footage from the Lions’ parade victory and from their field show at football games. The band even appeared in a music video with a rock band named OK Go.
But even with those singular successes, the kids face a football season without uniforms and a school year of standing through hours and hours of band practices.
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“The kids have to stand during practice because there aren’t any chairs.” He says the band needs to purchase 60 chairs - at $95 each – that help the students keep appropriate posture for playing wind instruments. Total bill, nearly $5,500.
 Raymundo Vizcarra, Fairfax’s Band Director at last year’s successful fundraiser. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
Which is chump change compared to the cost of uniforms. It may be some time since you last shopped for a marching band uniform, so you might be surprised to discover that outfitting the band with sufficient uniforms will run roughly $50,000 – over $300 per uniform.
Los Angeles Unified School District, having cut funding for the arts to the bone, cannot pay for the kid’s uniforms, so Mr. Vizcarra must the money in creative ways.
“If we can’t raise all the money for the whole band, I want at least to raise enough for the Color Guard’s uniforms,” he said. The band needs 25 of those at a cost of $150 per.
After hosting Mr. Vizcarra’s successful recital last year, Jeff Prang suggested that he pick up the old ax, limber his embrasure and join him in a special “celebrity “ duet for the second annual benefit.
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“We hope to raise a good chunk of the money Ray and the students need to field the finest band in the best tradition of the famed Fairfax Lions,” said Mr. Prang.
 Raymundo Vizcarra, Fairfax’s Band Director at last year’s successful fundraiser. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
WHO:
Jeffrey Prang, Mayor Pro Tempore, West Hollywood
Raymundo Vizcarra, Director, Instrumental Music, Fairfax High School
WHEN:
Friday, August 31, 2007
Begins at 7 p.m.
WHERE:
Fairfax High School Auditorium
7850 Melrose Avenue (at Fairfax Avenue)
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Tickets are $20 each.
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