With two Bigfork High School band students accepted to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and a band program that needs to replace its aging instruments, many people have stepped up and helped out.

Junior Carson Cantrell, a tenor saxophone player, was chosen in July to perform with Macy’s Great American Marching Band. He soon began fundraising for the $3,000 needed to cover costs and has received about $500 so far.

Bigfork music teacher Randi Tunnell said sophomore Ross Coleman also was recently chosen to play in the Macy’s band. Coleman will play trombone.

“We are so excited that he got accepted,” Tunnell said in an email to The Daily Inter Lake. “We just found out after he applied when they announced they needed more brass for the ensemble.”

Coleman has also begun the task of raising roughly $3,000. Included in the cost is airfare, meals, lodging, leadership workshops and sightseeing.

The eight-day trip to New York City will be a first for both Cantrell and Coleman.

They will perform among 245 young musicians who represent every state.

“I have never marched before and our band only has about 40 kids in it, so this will be much bigger than anything I have experienced,” Coleman said.

Tunnell had more good new to share about the community’s support for the band program to replace its aging instruments.

At the beginning of the school year, Tunnell was seeking donations to replace (or repair when possible) about 30 district-owned instruments she estimated to be more than 40 years old.

Students are not required to purchase or rent instruments to play in band.

So far she has received donations of about $3,300, two tenor saxophones and a piccolo.

“Such great things are happening in the BHS band program,” Tunnell said. “The money is going to be so helpful to repair our bass clarinets and purchase one French horn. New horns are at least $2,000 and if a woodwind instrument needs repairs that can be up to $300, so it will be put to great use.”

Donations will be accepted throughout the year.

For more information, email rtunnell@bigfork.k12.mt.us. Donations may be mailed to Bigfork High School, P.O. Box 188, Bigfork, MT 59911. Checks may be made out to BHS Band.  

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.