Community encouraged to ‘boost’ attendance
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — With fall fast approaching, local middle- and high-school student singers and musicians are gearing up for an end-of-summer concert.
“Music at Mantle” will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 at Mantle Lake Park.
Sponsored by the SAD 1 Music Boosters Club, Music at Mantle originally started in the early 1990s as Jazz at the Beach, which was held at the Aroostook State Park.
“We’ve done Rockin’ at Riverside held at Riverside Park, Tunes & Trails, which was at the Nordic Heritage Center, and then Music at Mantle a number of times,” said Dan Schneider, music director for SAD 1. “Mantle works well especially since they’ve upgraded the park. It’s nice and centrally located, plus they have a large group shelter with grills and a kitchen area. It’s a nice setup and it’s served us well in the past.”
Community members are invited to bring a lawn chair or a blanket, enjoy lunch and listen to music by some of the district’s most talented musicians.
“This is a fund-raiser for the Music Boosters,” said Schneider. “We’re going to have hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries, soda and water for sale. We’ll also be selling raffle tickets. We draw tickets on items that have been donated by area businesses throughout the day, which makes it fun.
“Money-wise it’s good for the community to come out and support us,” he said, “but it’s also good for the public to see the kids doing what they love. As performers, it’s nice to have an audience as it fires them up and gets them to do their best, and we truly do have a lot of talented young musicians.”
All proceeds will benefit the 2016 Music Festival Trip, as well as other Music Boosters’ ventures.
“Every four years we try to take a cultural trip,” said Schneider. “This past spring we went to New York City which is a wonderful destination because it has a lot to offer. This allows each student the opportunity to attend an International Music Festival once during their high school career.
“The Boosters also raise money to help defray the cost of kids going to music camp,” he said, “and they offer a scholarship to a student pursuing post-secondary education in music. They do a lot of great work.”
Performing during Saturday’s Music at Mantle will be the Presque Isle High School Chorus (11-11:30 a.m.), PIHS Game (Pep) Band (11:30 a.m.-noon), PIHS Jazz Band (noon-12:30 p.m.) and the Presque Isle Middle School Jazz Band (12:30-1 p.m.).
In the event of rain, the concert will be cancelled.
For more information, contact Schneider at 764-0121.
