LAS CRUCES – The Las Cruces High School Showcase Band’s day, which performed at the Zia Marching Band Fiesta on Saturday, started on an extremely sour note.
Band officials woke up that morning to discover that prior to the performance, someone had stolen a Penske box truck containing more than $ 200,000 in equipment, instruments and speakers from a hotel parking lot in Albuquerque.
“As soon as we heard the news, everything froze and our hearts fell,” Lorraine Leachman, fundraising chair for the LCHS Showcase Band, said in a press release.
But thanks to the local bands renting equipment and parents who volunteered their time and personal vehicles, the show went on.
The LCHS band finished seventh of 19 artists in the national competition – which was held at the University of New Mexico – and at the end of the day the stolen truck and some of the equipment were recovered.
“The flood of support was incredibly touching. I’m so proud of the way the students encouraged each other and put on a great show despite the challenge this morning! “Said Ty Frederick, LCHS band director in a press release.
getting together
Mason Leachman, Lorraine’s son and brother of two band members, said Saturday morning started as expected when the band members woke up early to catch a bus to Albuquerque in time to practice and prepare for their 3pm show.
But when the 107 band members arrived at a school parking lot in Las Cruces, they found that the equipment that was supposed to be waiting for them in Albuquerque had been stolen overnight.
Mason explained that large band equipment – drums, piano, synthesizers, etc. – is often transported separately to a performance. In this case, the LCHS band leaders drove the Penske box truck filled with equipment to Albuquerque on Friday and parked it in a hotel parking lot.
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When the news came from the stolen truck, band leaders from across the state offered to help, Mason said.
He said the Pride of New Mexico NMSU marching band – which did not travel to Hawaii with the soccer team – was instrumental in helping.
Members of the NMSU band brought the necessary equipment to the parking lot in Las Cruces. Since it was mostly large musical instruments that were too big for the bus with the children, the band parents drove the devices in their own vehicles to Albuquerque. A parent dragged a trailer full of props for the band’s “The Lion King” show, Mason said.
“Some of these parents didn’t even plan to go there, but they’ve stepped up,” he said.
To accommodate the LCHS band members – and their gear – arriving in Albuquerque a little later than planned, other high school bands attending the fiesta rescheduled their training and performance times.
Pay it up front
Steven Smyth, who directs the Pride of New Mexico, said his band lent LCHS various drums that were found in a marching band. He said the band from Organ Mountain High School borrowed their sound system and other bands borrowed instruments such as marimbas and xylophones.
“The band community here in Las Cruces is extremely close,” he said, noting that he learned about the stolen equipment from another member of the NMSU music department, an LCHS band father.
“As soon as I heard it was, ‘What do you need?’ said Smith.
“Basically it just pays off,” he continued, saying that Frederick has helped the NMSU band over the past few years.
Shawn Silva, director of the OMHS band, said he had the same reaction when he found out about the stolen equipment.
Silva said Frederick told him that a sound system would be the most useful. This is a computer programmed system of speakers, microphones and amplifiers. A parent of the OMHS band helped set up the LCHS gig, Silva said.
Since OMHS was to perform right after LCHS, the sound system for the Knights’ Show stayed on the field.
Smyth said he was happy to see both LCHS and OMHS bands make it to the finals of the Zia Fiesta.
Overall, the collaboration between the bands has been a positive day, he said. “It’s a bad situation that has been turned into a good situation.”
OMHS took second place in the competition. But, said Silva, he couldn’t be happier with the way the day went.
“I am very proud of our community,” said Silva. “When we get together like this, there is nothing better.”
Find the stolen truck
Mason said a few hours after the band performed, the stolen truck was found within Albuquerque city limits.
Much of the equipment that had been in the back of the truck was missing, however.
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“Pretty much all of the electronic stuff was gone,” said Mason.
He said some items are insured and band officials are still keeping records of the losses.
In the meantime, the LCHS Showcase Band is asking for donations of any amount to help the students end the season and replace the stolen equipment.
Visit lchsshowcaseband.com/shop or contact the band at [email protected] to find out more.
Lucas Peerman can be reached at [email protected] or @LittleGuyInATie on Twitter.
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