LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The Slaton High School choir joined Foreigner onstage at Buddy Holly Hall Tuesday night, giving students an opportunity to perform with the band and drawing attention to the value of funding public music education.
Choir Director Paul Vasquez said the program has grown from 14 students to 63 in a few years.
“We’re coming from a small town in Slaton, and we don’t always have the opportunities to go out and do these big stage-type events,” he said. “I think for these kids it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get them to see and broaden their horizons on what music can do for them in their lives.”
Foreigner bassist Jeff Pilson said he had similar support from a music teacher in the past.
“My orchestra teacher — I had the same orchestra teacher in junior high and high school — was just this phenomenally supportive guy,” Pilson said. “I don’t think I would have pursued music professionally if it weren’t for his encouragement.”
Pilson said all the band members received public school music education.
“We want to raise awareness because in so many places now, funding — one of the first things that gets cut is music and the arts,” he said. “It’s been so proven that doing well in music and the arts applies to every other subject as well.”
The band donates $500 to the choirs it invites to perform while on tour. Lubbock restaurant One Guy from Italy matched the donation to support the Slaton program.
Senior Mari Marsistos said the performance helped bring recognition to the choir.
“We don’t get recognized very often. We’re kind of the underdogs in our school,” Marsistos said. “So, with all of this happening, it’s kind of put us out there and like how much, the work we put into everything.”
Junior Adalyn Sims said the arts help students express themselves.
“I think the arts are very important, and it helps a lot of students like myself express themselves creatively and it’s helped me a lot in my years in high school,” she said.
For freshman Krista Thompson, the night was also a chance to share an experience with her nana, Lela Reagor. Reagor said Foreigner was her first concert back in 1979, and this week she got to watch her granddaughter perform with them at Thompson’s first concert.
“I told her I’ll be singing right along with her because I know them all,” Reagor said.
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