NEW MARKET — Southmont High School’s Royal Mountie Band members are drumming up support for a new community fundraising incentive, “Friends of the Band Program.”

Money raised will help support the band program for such needs as instruments, contest entry fees and other related items.

The initial push for the “Friends of the Band Program” will continue through Nov. 5. The band and color guard members want to have at least 1,000 donors on board as they kick off the incentive.

“I know people want to support quality and like the idea of the kids having 100 percent of the money individuals donate put towards the efforts of the Royal Mountie Band and Winter Guard,” band director Brian Bartlett said.

For a $10 donation, the donor’s name or business will be displayed at varsity boys’ basketball games and concerts with a PowerPoint presentation.

“It is much like advertising you see at the teacher except it will scroll throughout the games,” Bartlett said.

Names or businesses will also be printed on the band shirts the Royal Mountie Band members wear at games and the Winter Guard shirts worn at contests.

“We are a nine-time state finalist in marching band and the Winter Guard has made the finals four out of the last five years,” Bartlett said. “We attract a lot of positive attention when we are in public. I know some donors just get a kick out of seeing their name of our shirts as supporters.”

The donation can be used as a tax deduction.

“The great thing is 100 percent of the money goes to the program,” Bartlett said. “There are no middlemen like other organizations. All the money goes toward the program to help the kids create the best band and guard program we can.”

So far, some of the individuals who have already made a commitments for financial support have been dentists, physicians, community members, local churches, and even a graduate living in Japan.

“These people value this program and want to see excellence continue,” Bartlett said. “They understand how important it is to have a place where young people learn valuable lessons these students can use the rest of their lives.”

To donate to the program or for further information contact Brian Bartlett at Southmont High School, 6425 U.S. 231 S., Crawfordsville, IN 47933, or phone him at 765-866-0350, ext. 219.

In an unrelated band announcement, 11 members of the Royal Mountie Band have been selected to represent Southmont at the Indiana Bandmaster Association All-Region and All-District Honor Bands.

The representatives will be Creasy Clauser, Melody Howard, Joseph Landes, Elizabeth Lovall, Tanikka Sparks and Susan Ward, All-District Honor Band; and Austin Bartlett, Lauren Haffner, Raeleigh Klingensmith, Kyle McCormick and Andrew Turpin, All-Region Honor Band.

The All-Region Bands are comprised of students in grades seven through nine, and the All-District Bands are selected from students in grades nine through 12.

The Mountie musicians will practice with other students for the district band from various schools across Indiana Nov. 10 at Northview High School.

The region band members will practice together Nov. 17 at Cloverdale High School.

Concerts will be performed the next day after practice at 4 p.m. at each school site. There will also be a prominent guest conductor to rehearse the students.

“I am thrilled all of our students that applied were selected,” Bartlett said.

Each student had to apply and then they were ranked according to the criteria given. Directors responsible for the all-district and all-region bands reviewed the applications and selected the members.

“It is very much like an all-star team,” Bartlett said. “Even the practice and concert are a challenge.”

Each student is provided music ahead of time to practice.

“Students have to be self-motivated and disciplined to complete this awesome task on top of their individual work loads at school.”