June 15th, 2008- 2:00 P.M.
Downtown Albert Lea, Minnesota
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9th
Annual Albert Lea Festival of Bands Canceled June 15th, 2008- 2:00 P.M. Downtown Albert Lea, Minnesota |
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The Albert Lea
Festival of Bands will not be held this year. There are a number
of factors why the committee made this decision.
Fuel price increases have a direct effect on the number of bands that can fit the travel expenses into their budget. Many schools are struggling just to keep their music programs alive because of budget restrains. This year only nine bands had registered for the festival and such a small number takes away from the main reason for having the festival. What was a marching competition has turned into a marching exhibition. As the economy has affected the number of bands it has also affected the number and amount of contributions. A specific amount of dollars are needed to successfully put on this parade and as the contributions were behind where we need them to be, it was a factor in the decision. Note: We would like all of you who have contributed money to us for 2008 to know that your contribution will be refunded as soon as possible. Another prime factor is the number of people needed to put on this parade. The volunteers have decreased over the last couple of years and it is unfair to the people we have to continue to ask them to carry a larger and larger share of the work load. “It has been our pleasure to have served the bands, their young people, and the people of Minnesota and surrounding area for the past eight years. I feel that this is a major loss to the “Summer Marching Band Program” in Minnesota. I also feel that the music programs in our school are suffering badly from the budget restrains being placed on our schools. Music in my humble opinion provides one of the greatest positives in the development of our young people in school. It is sad that it is one of the first programs to be cut, the first to be excluded when budget is a factor,” A quote from Dick Hench, our festival chairman. We would like to thank our local media for helping us to promote this event. The local business and service organizations that have helped us over the past years, and thanks also to the spectators for coming and enjoying the “Albert Lea Festival of Bands” year after year, we hope we are missed! Albert Lea Festival of Bands Committee  |
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