(Picture courtesy of the Goldbeck Company of San Antonio and used with permission.)
On December 3, approximately 50 members of The Spirit of the Plains will travel to Andrews, Texas in a show of solidarity and community for our colleagues. The Andrews Band, as you know, was involved in what can only be described a horrifying tragedy when the band bus was hit head on by a vehicle traveling the wrong direction on the interstate. Many of their instruments were destroyed and the rest of the instruments that were on the bus are now considered evidence in the ongoing investigation into the crash.
Because of that situation, the Mustang Band was being forced to cancel their performance in the annual Andrews Christmas Festival. Area Band Directors, in conjunction with Tarpley Music in Lubbock, and Band Booster organizations have joined forces and will perform with the Mustang Band. The result will be a performance by over 400 students from the Panhandle, South Plains, and the Permian Basin. The Booster groups are partnering with the Andrews Band Boosters to feed the volunteer band.
While the nightly news is filled with hate and violence, the Band students of our area have decided to show the world how we do things in West Texas.
BISD Superintendent Chris Smith stated, “We were deeply saddened by the accident that tragically impacted our neighbors. The beautiful this is that in dark times, West Texas comes together as one big community. The fact that some of our Spirit of the Plains Band is going to play in place of the Andrews band is humbling. I am so very proud of them and Mr. William Burks (Band Director) for stepping up and representing us in support of Andrews ISD.”
As of press time, at least 40 high schools and over 1,000 students, from many area schools were set to be a part of this great band.
