D73.5 Looks to Boost Bands

Skokie Review – October 28, 1998

by Kathy Routliffe

Ask Chip DeStefano, and he’ll be the first to tell you: there’s more to making music than making music.

The band director for School District. 73.5’s long-running music program can elaborate. A successful band program needs volunteers to drive band members to concerts and competitions, he said this week. It needs willing hands and backs to haul cumbersome instruments and music stands.

It needs people willing to plan fundraisers, people who can get to know each other and foster a feeling of community around the youngsters who make the music. “With that kind of help, I can focus on working with the kids, teaching them more about the music they’re playing,” DeStefano said.

DeStefano, who succeeded veteran band director Don Stahlberg three years ago, has more than enough energy to convince district residents that they can become part of that effort.

With the help of McCracken Middle School principal Vicki Gunther, he, parents and other district residents have started planning what they hope will become an unofficial booster club for the program.

“It isn’t anything official, with officers or meeting schedules, parent Carol Priban said Wednesday. “But without support from parents and from the whole district community kids won’t realize the importance of this program.”

Like De Stefano, Priban said the group has yet to solidify its goals. But, again like the band leader, Priban said the most important immediate tasks are to build a network of adults willing to chauffeur, chaperone and shoulder equipment.

Another objective, parent Judy Kopp said last week, is to create an instrument exchange for students. Although some students own their own instruments, others rent them or use those owned by the district because the cost of quality instruments can be prohibitive.

“Some of kids who have maybe been in the band for a while and are no longer interested, who have purchased their instruments, could alert parents who want to buy for their own children. Or kids who want to switch instruments could have someplace to go to look, Kopp said.

Ultimately, band supporters want to raise money to help replace many of the school instruments that DeStefano said have come to the end of their useful lives.

Daily and weekly practices keep both De Stefano and his young charges busy, but the payoffs have been significant, as they have been over a 30 year history of award winning. District residents interested in helping support the band program can call the district at 673-1220.