We would like to thank all of you who supported the Oak Harbor Middle School Symphonic Band’s effort to raise money to compete in the National Heritage Music Festival in Anaheim, Calif. Through your generosity we were able to raise over $50,000 to send the 56-member band plus chaperones to the competition this past weekend.

Over the past 10 months, our parents and students have washed cars, sold candy, sold boat tour tickets, solicited donations and played concerts to raise money for this trip.

At the festival there were more than 90 musical groups from all over the world competing in their divisions. The OHMS Symphonic Band performed excellently earning second place in the Middle School/Junior High Concert Band Division. We are very proud of these remarkable students and their director Mr. Patrick Manuel.

We wish to send a special thank you to Deception Pass Tours, Diamond Rentals, Guild Mortgage, Jones Accounting, Island Drug, Island Thrift, Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Oak Harbor Educational Foundation, Rhapsody Marketing, Whidbey Marketplace and News, Bay View Printing and P&L General Contractors for their contributions to our fundraising efforts. Without these businesses and charities we would not have been able to succeed in our efforts to provide this great opportunity for our kids.

Thank you to Principal Shane Evans and the Oak Harbor School District for supporting this trip. We have a gem with our music programs in Oak Harbor. Congratulations to these students and everyone involved in making this trip happen. The OHMS Band Parent Group:

Don Jaques, Melanie Ashton Davies Chris Johnson, Tracy Bertram, Lori Willaimson, April Stach, Lisa Yoder, Brian T. Jones