ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Eagle River High School students got a special visit on Tuesday from the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific. The band, which is based at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, is traveling through Alaska, doing special performances at select high schools for the Month of the Military Child. According to Eagle River High School, the student body is made up of around 40% military families.<\/p>\n
\u201cMusic makes people happy, music really connects everyone,\u201d Staff Sgt. Courtney Woods of the band said. \u201cIt\u2019s the greatest honor in the world to be able to wear this uniform doing what I love the most.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the visit, the band worked with the high school students during their band classes, during which service members gave the students pointers. The band also showed students one way they can have a career in music after high school. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been really fun to work with the band kids,\u201d Woods said. \u201cI like to think that if it\u2019s possible, we can inspire one kid to either pursue music professionally or maybe pursue a career in the military, then that\u2019s a huge win.\u201d<\/p>\n
The band\u2019s performance comes at a time that Anchorage School District fine arts programs are facing cuts going into the next school year. According to the district, 12 fine arts teachers were notified on April 17 that they were being laid off. The district said 44 other educators were also notified that they were being laid off. The district said the cuts to staffing and the fine arts programs are intended to address its $90 million deficit.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, music is the reason that I come to school,\u201d Ivin Dick, a junior at Eagle River High School, said. \u201cAnd to have this outlet taken away from me and other people I know, it\u2019s honestly devastating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dick said that his dream is to someday be a professional musician.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really hope that we can find a way to fix it,\u201d Dick said regarding the proposed cuts.<\/p>\n
Dick said that the band visit provided him with networking opportunities and advice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s really amazing to be able to connect with people that are passionate with the same things that you\u2019re passionate about,\u201d Dick said. \u201cA lot of the times it can be kind of lonely in a place where nobody really cares about what you care about to the same extent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alaska\u2019s News Source asked Anchorage School District how cuts would specifically impact Eagle River High School. The district did not provide an answer. <\/p>\n
Woods also addressed the proposed cuts on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might sound a little cheesy, but music is the universal language. I see it every single day,\u201d Woods said. \u201cI hope that these students have a way to continue to have music be part of their lives and their education.\u201d<\/p>\n
The band is also playing public shows at the University of Alaska Fairbanks on April 24 at 6:30 p.m. and the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center on April 26 at 2 p.m. All of the band\u2019s public performances are free and open to the public, the band said.<\/p>\n