Cheney's school bands are examples of excellence

It an be tempting to write negative letters complaining about the issues we currently face in America. I would much rather share a bright spot in our community and the next generation.

Cheney School bands are doing a wonderful job instructing our kids in music, teamwork, responsibility and excellence. We just returned from a very successful trip to the annual Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival in Missoula, Mont. This year, one of our high school students took home an award for excellent musicianship in sax performance, and the trombone section of the Jazz I Combo received top honors for the day, best 14 other bands.

We traveled with the two high school jazz combos as well as jazz bands from both Westwood and Cheney middle schools. Our community can be proud of their performances as well as their character during the overnight stay. Our band directors Sam Schlaich, William Foster, Joshua Wisswell and Kyle Labish, display an amazing amount of energy, creativity and dedication as they teach our kids about leadership and music every day.

Hear the jazz bands for yourselves at their spring concert on Thursday, May 30, at 7 p.m. at Cheney Middle School. The concert is free and we would love the community to enjoy a partnership with these talented musicians.

You can find more free concerts at http://www.cheneybands.org.

Leslie King

Cheney