A telethon? Spectacular

Attention Spokane fifth- and sixth-grade musicians: Wet your reeds and tighten your strings.

With help from a local television station and two area businesses, the Spokane Public Schools Band and Strings Spectacular is back.

That was music to the ears of budding musicians at Roosevelt Elementary School, who learned Friday they will likely get to perform after all.

Said fifth-grade violinist Hayley Watkins: “Sweeet.”

About 2,200 fifth- and sixth-grade students perform at the annual band and strings concert each year at the Spokane Arena.

The popular district wide concert was canceled last month by school officials in order to help fill a looming budget gap. Last week, the district announced $12.3 million in additional possible cuts. They’ve also proposed closing Pratt Elementary School.

“We understand this budget problem, it’s real; it’s not going away,” said Dave Weatherred, visual and performing arts coordinator for the district.

Weatherred was grateful to learn that KHQ television, AmericanWest Bank and Windermere Realty announced they would work together to raise the $12,000 needed to reinstate the performance. KHQ will also host a telethon all day Tuesday, with live performances from students.

Even if they aren’t able to raise enough funds on Tuesday, KHQ News Director Jonathan Mitchell said the station and its two business partners would figure out how to make it happen.

“We’re moving forward no matter what,” Mitchell said. “Once we see how much we raise, we’re all going to come together and see what happens.”

After announcing the concert would be canceled, district officials received dozens of calls from concerned parents and community members.

“This concert has been going on for many years,” Weatherred said.

“They look at the arts as an important part of a child’s education; this (concert) is one of the flagships of that.”

By doing away with the concert, district officials estimated they would save about $12,000.

The concert costs twice that much, Weatherred said.

The rest is paid for with small donations given at the door by the estimated 6,000 families that come to watch, and a small grant.

On Friday students at Roosevelt practiced the pieces they plan to perform at the concert.

“I’m nervous all over again,” said cellist Alaina Shelley, 10. “My whole family was looking forward to it because they never really get to hear me play. I’m so excited that now they will.”