SHS Band Bash cancelled for second year

The annual Band Bash was cancelled on Sept. 10 due to inclement weather conditions to the ubiquitous disappointment of those looking forward to it.This is the second year in a row that it’s been shut down and for those looking forward to the festivities, the cancellation is nothing short of pure frustration.

Edward Kline, the music director of the Solon band, was especially troubled by the cancellation. Making the call to cancel is a huge weight; luckily, Kline had the support of the parents and staff to do so. But for everyone involved, it’s a major loss in more ways than one.

“It’s the hardest decision I have to make because I know all the work that the parents and kids have put into it,” Kline said. “We were excited to showcase our band in front of all these other great bands and then Mother Nature stops us from doing so. It’s also a fundraiser for us so monetarily it’s a huge hit.”

Many in band speculated and questioned why the Band Bash didn’t have a back-up plan especially after having suffered from the same result last year.. Kline said that this was, in fact, impossible.

“Every band books their shows in May and has all of their schedules planned out a year in advance,” Kline said. “There’s no such thing as a ‘back-up’ or a ‘make-up date’. It just doesn’t work because you cannot get everyone [at a rescheduled Band Bash].”

Band always works in conjunction with the football team on Friday nights. Never does the band get to absorb a major spotlight in which they are the focus. Kline described that a main reason for having the Band Bash is that for one night it isn’t about football– it’s about the band.

“[Everyone] in the audience [is] there to support the band, so it’s a different kind of crowd,” Kline said. “They are all engaged and watching every single step and movement and they are going to enjoy it ten times more than at a football game because let’s be honest, not everyone is there to see the band.”

SHS senior Laura Mayer, president of band as well as trombone section leader, was looking forward to being able to finally represent the school’s band for the first time since her sophomore year. However, this was not the case.

“I was very sad that the Band Bash was cancelled because it would have been my last year to do it,” Mayer said. “A lot of other bands were excited to perform with us and couldn’t because of the cancellation. There were mixed feelings with the people in band on the cancellation; most seniors were sad because it was their last year, but others were happy because it freed their night of commitments so they could stay home or go out. But in the past I’ve been happy with the Band Bash; it’s always fun to see just the bands from other schools perform.”

Shruti Gupta, a clarinet squad leader for band, shared the same sentiment as Mayer. Cancelling Band Bash was an obvious and inevitable decision because of the weather. Despite this, the sorrow that the members feel is still resounding as they’ll never be able to experience it again.

“The current freshmen and sophomores haven’t gotten to experience it yet and I didn’t get to have a Band Bash for the last half of my high school career,” Gupta said. “For safety reasons, I’m glad it was cancelled but I wish the weather had been better.”

Band Bash is far from finished. Despite having two unsuccesful years, it’s guaranteed that the event will return as soon as the weather will allow it. But for the band, parents and Mr. Kline, it is truly a shame to see another Band Bash washed away..

“The Band Bash is a great opportunity to showcase everything the band has been doing,” Gupta said. “Football games are great, but you get to focus on just the band with the Band Bash.”