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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0111.041 2010-2012 Testimony given on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 Good Morning. My name is Suzi Bond and I am the executive director of KDEN, the Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network, a volunteer Theater Arts teacher at Volcano School of Arts and Sciences, a past president of the Hilo High School Band Boosters , last year's parade coordinator for the Volcano Community Association, a four family- sixth generation missionary descendant, a supporter of the arts AND a registered voter. I also write "The Big Island Broadway Beat" for Big Island Weekly. I would like to start with a quote by Cyril Connolly, author of The Condemned Playground "Art occupies in society the equivalent of one of those glands the size of a pea on which the proper functioning of the body depends, and whose removal is as easy as it is fatal." Don't worry, I will repeat this before I am through. I can NOT believe I am having to testify AGAIN! REALLY? TheHawaii County is part of our heritage. For over 15 years I have participated in and/or organized the Volcano Community's July 4th celebration. The Hawaii County Band is a big part of that celebration. Rain or shine (and believe me it has been more rain than shine) there they are. When they "Strike Up the Band" to start the parade the energy goes up and everyone gets excited. There is nothing like a marching band! Volcano's 4th celebration would be the first event affected by the lose of the band, and the community will have a very bland parade. There is no other band available during the summer. As director of the summer musicals for over 15 years, I have "employed" many members of this band to play in my orchestras alongside high school students. These talented musicians not only give of their time, but they provide a valuable mentoring tool. They help the students learn the ins and outs of playing in a very different situation then band concerts.Their expertise is invaluable and their musicianship is unmatched. If you want to see them at work with these kids, come see our summer musical. It would be a first for most of you. As president of the Hilo High School Band Boosters I have watched as students have moved from school band to the community band. They are so proud of themselves. This band gives these students a glimpse of what it is like to be a professional musician and it inspires them to continue their studies in music. I have dealt with the Hawaii County Band as a whole and as individuals. They are hard working talented people who give much more that they get. They purchase their own instuments and clothes so they can participate, an expense the county does not bear. These instruments are expensive and their upkeep is not cheap either. The "salaries" they receive barely cover these expenses. It would be an embarrassment to Comm No. // Ref. To: au G w+ct / Ref. Dote MAY 18 2011 this county and especially to this council if they were not to see the wisdom and fund the band. One last thing you should consider. Music is an important learning tool. Studies have shown that the same synapses fire in the brain when a child learns music as when they learn math and science. If we want to see math scores rise, put music into the schools and in the recreation department. Saying all this can you have the nerve to cut the county band and yet put into the budget $250,000 for a dog park ? ? ?? REALLY ? ?? Are dogs more important than heritage and culture? REALLY ? ?? It would be highly embarrassing if you were to do this. Honestly, I will be embarrassed to live in a place that says to children that dogs are more important than they are. I will say this once again. I hope you are listening. "Art occupies in society the equivalent of one of those glands the size of a pea on which the proper functioning of the body depends, and whose removal is as easy as it is fatal." SAVE OUR COUNTY BAND! PLEASE. SUZI BOND. HCR 3 BOX 13089 KEA'AU HI 96749 KDEN73@AOL.COM 982 -8425