Band plays blues as costs rise Band plays blues as costs rise (November 26, 2004)

Dropping dollar hikes price of London trip $100
by Jeb Bing

With the British pound and Euro touching all-time highs against the dollar, members of the Amador Valley High School marching band are playing the blues.

The band, booked for a trip to London on Dec. 27 to march in that city's annual New Year's Day parade, learned last week that they'll have to pay an additional $100 because of the new currency exchange rate. Also added in is a new trans-Atlantic fee the airlines are imposing to cover their higher costs.

"It was very discouraging news because the band members have worked so hard all year long to come up with the $1,975 apiece that our contract called for," said band director Jonathan Grantham. "Now they'll have to pay more."

A total of 190 have signed up for the trip, along with 14 chaperones. Some parents, brothers and sisters are also taking the trip, to be part of the crowd cheering Amador as they march along Piccadilly Circus. The parade is London's largest, attracting more than a million spectators each year and broadcast to a worldwide audience of over 300 million.

Grantham said seven band members who could not afford to make the trip received financial help from special community donations, and that their new higher air fees also will be covered. Another four students have told Grantham that they cannot afford the additional fee and contributions are being sought so that they can go.

Could there be yet another adjustment?

"I don't even want to think about it, but the rates keep changing," Grantham said.

Anyone wanting to help fund the higher costs of the band trip can get additional information from Grantham, who can be reached in the Amador band room at 461-6196.

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