La Veta band program going strong

by Matt Dobbs
LA VETA — The La Veta Band program held its Winter Concert last month in the high school gym and will be hosting the Spring Concert this Spring.
Prior to ringing in the New Year, students were busy breaking in their new music teacher, Doug Swanson. Swanson is a first year teacher from Greenville, PA. Swanson was hired on by La Veta school to fill the vacancy left by Jackie Danzig who took another teaching position in the Bahamas.
Swanson made his teaching debut conducting the La Veta Elementary concert followed by the Junior High Band concert in mid December. Both concerts exemplified the efforts of Swanson, the students, and the new music curriculum that has been put in place this year which focuses on the fundamentals of music and instruments used to make it.
The evenings were filled with the sounds of many traditional arrangements as well as some holiday favorites. The Junior High concert also featured three new groups that are the result of the “After School” programing currently offered at La Veta School. These groups are a combination of Junior High and High School students. The Glee Club, Advanced Music Group and the Jazz Ensemble give students with the desire and aptitude to practice beyond the day, an opportunity to perform specialty pieces for the community.
In addition to the a new teacher, new curriculum, and new after school programs, the school has also formed a Band Boosters Club which meets every first Tuesday of the month at 6p.m. at Sammies Restaurant. The Band Boosters Club was formed by Swanson and Bethany LaLoge to help fund the endeavors of the young musicians in the band programs. The Boosters Club is open to parents, family, or any interested community member with a love of music that has the desire to help build the music program in La Veta.
Currently the Boosters club is assisting with the Butter Braid Fundraiser which will be going on until February 6th which will help purchase and repair the instruments for the music program. Any person interested in helping with the Boosters, or who would like to find out more information may contact the school at 742-3662 or LaLoge at 719-248-2450.
photos by Regina Griego