Batesburg-Leesville band reaching out to other aspiring musicians

BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, SC (WIS) - Last January, WIS News 10 told you about high school band students wanting to help some aspiring musicians. Their plan started when they heard about students in what's known as the "Corridor of Shame" who could not afford instruments.

Joey Terlizzi of the Batesburg-Leesville band says, "I think it's tragic. You know, it really puts things in perspective. I might complain about how our band does or, you know, the equipment I have. But at least I have them to use."

You often hear of J.V. Martin Middle School in Dillon County because it has the oldest school building in South Carolina. Tuesday, more than 80 students at J.V. Martin got the chance to try something new thanks to students at a different school - ones they've never met.

When you work at a school in a place some call the "Corridor of Shame," you learn to make the best of things.

J.V. Martin band director Kevin McLellan says, "This is probably the oldest tuba we have, probably over 30 years old."

"I don't complain about what I don't have. I work with what I do have."

What McLellan has is plenty of students that want to be in band. What he didn't have was the instruments. "Most kids' parents can't afford instruments," McLellan says. "We're not a poor school, we just need help."

Tuesday help arrived in the back of a trailer from across the state.

The Batesburg-Leesville Band Boosters took up a collection of discarded and used instruments as part of a program called Music Replay. Musician's Supply refurbished them - and now the Batesburg-Leesville band came to make the presentation.

Martin Santos of the Batesburg-Leesville band says, "We want to get out the passion of making music. When I play the trumpet I just get into it. I want them to feel the same way."

After a short concert and a demonstration by professional drummer Les Cleaveland, out came the instruments - all 82 of them.

Batesburg-Leesville band booster Robin Concklin says, "I've seen these instruments so many times before, but they didn't have the impact they did today when we saw those kids' faces."

Those faces kept smiling all the way back to the band room.

"We ain't got a lot of instruments at this school. Thank you. Thank you a lot," says Robin Concklin. "One of our band parents once said band kids are just great people. And she's absolutely right. The more band kids we have the more better people we have."

Reported by Taylor Kearns

Posted by Chantelle Janelle