Huntersville band needed money for dream trip. A community came together to help.
The Huntersville community banded together this weekend to send Hopewell High School’s Titanium Sound to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
Hopewell High’s marching band accepted an invitation to college football’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the beginning of the school year, but members on Friday were $15,000 short of the $80,000 to make the trip. The cost includes travel, lodging and meals.
“A trip like this means that all of these students’ hard work has not gone unnoticed,” Band Director Curtis Bell said. “It shows them how powerful music really is, as well as all the cool places and experiences music affords them.”
The band raised more than $21,000 during a weekend fundraising blitz propelled by pleas from parents, community members and business owners.
“We are overwhelmed by the support we received,” said Victoria Ferrannini, a sophomore at Hopewell High who plays the bass clarinet in the marching band. “I can’t wait to make our community proud when we perform in Atlanta and at all the performances to come.”
It’s the first time Titanium Sound has been invited to perform at the Peach Bowl, which is played Dec. 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and while enough money has been secured there are still ongoing costs and band students will need donations going forward.
“This opportunity for the high school to be represented in a positive light is long overdue,” parent Kelly Blake said. “The school boasts an amazing student body and an outstanding marching band.”
Hopewell High’s concert and jazz bands will join Titanium Sound, and across a several-day itinerary they will compete in a field show against other high school marching bands and concert and jazz band competitions. The marching band will participate in Fan Fest and perform during the pre-game and National Anthem.
Mattress sale, donuts and raffle tickets
Ferrannini is one of 52 band members who spent weeks raising the money for the trip, including a mattress sale, competition at Hopewell High with bands from across the Carolinas, online fundraisers and selling donuts and raffle tickets.
Chase Chickillo is a sophomore trumpet player for Titanium Sound.
He calls the band the “heartbeat of the school.”
“This representation in Atlanta would be monumental for us,” Chickillo said. “For Charlotte, it’s a chance for people to see what the Queen City has to offer. The Titanium Sound is just one of many great things about this city and the Peach Bowl is the perfect place to showcase it.”
Band members have rehearsed almost daily since July.
“(This will) really make this program shine, and we can even move forward towards bigger and better things and we’ll be put on an even bigger radar,” freshman band member Cameron Fenton said.
Hopewell High’s marching band also received an invitation to the Sugar Bowl, but given its location in New Orleans, the band decided the Peach Bowl was more practical and affordable.
“Ultimately, this trip will become memories for us all that will last a lifetime,” Bell said, “because it is an experience that not all young musicians or band programs get to have.”
This story was originally published October 31, 2022 at 12:29 PM.
