The North County Big Band is led by Harvey Lockhart, a music educator at Riverview Gardens High School and a pro sax player. It provides learning and performance opportunities for talented students from north county and city that their schools can’t provide, and it pays off. Last year seven of the band’s graduates received full college scholarships! And this is about more than playing music; the skills and confidence gained with music transfers to all aspects of a young person’s life.

Many of these students do not own their own instruments. There is a need for instruments and money to purchase arrangements and to fund participation at events and contests. The band has a great partnership with the Sheldon Arts Foundation which provides rehearsal space at the Sheldon and helps in many ways, even funding students’ transportation to rehearsals, but there is much more to do. Gateway plans to help find used instruments, to pay for reconditioning instruments, and to raise funds to fulfil the band’s other needs as well.

You can help! We are accepting contributions for the North County Big Band, both monetary gifts and used instruments. Contributions to the Gateway City Big Band, a 501(C)(3) non-profit, are tax deductible. Make checks payable to the Gateway City Big Band, write “North County Big Band” on the memo line and mail to 249 Brixham Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63017. If you have an instrument you would like to donate please email me at rickshrp@sbcglobal.net or telephone me at 314-954-2950 and we will arrange to pick up the instrument. The band is happy to receive most any instrument but is especially anxious to find professional level instruments.

Rick Sharp & Kellie Barnes with her new flute

McCluer South Berkeley High Receives GCBB Grant

2014 Scholarship Recipient Emma Heberle

Our Mission Statement states one of our objectives as the “encouragement and support of secondary school music education”. Over our 50 years the band has contributed thousands of dollars for scholarships and grants for students and school band programs. In addition, we’ve performed for fundraising events for many schools and our musicians have helped out by conducting section rehearsals and similar activities.

Our Board recently decided to focus our support on deserving band programs instead of individual scholarships, as many districts are having to severely cut budgets for their instrumental music programs.

In May of 2015 we presented an award to McCluer South-Berkeley High School’s band program. The school serves Berkeley, Ferguson, Bermuda, Cool Valley, and Kinloch. Its Band Director, Terrell Stringer, has been successful in expanding participation but budget constraints restrict the ability of students to participate as there is little or no money for the school to purchase instruments. The GCBB’s contribution, though modest, should provide instruments for two or three additional students. Instruments last a long time, so many students will benefit over the coming years. We expect to make our next grant in the first quarter of 2016.

If you would like to assist in this effort we would welcome your support. The GCBB is a 501(C)3 non-profit and contributions to our school grant fund are tax deductible.

For information on how you can help or to contribute to our next grant please email us at rickshrp@sbcglobal.net.

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