Cape bands take stage March 31

Cape Henlopen High School band plans its own version of March Madness – a fundraiser concert Saturday, March 31.

March Music Madness will be held at 1 p.m. at the high school theater and is free of charge. A bake sale by the music boosters will help raise money for the band's trip to Orlando, Fla. April 25 to 29.

"We're still getting the music together, but it should be a great show," said high school band director Rob Barbarita.

Some pieces listeners can expect to hear performed include "Pursuit" by Abrams, "Crooner's Seranade" by Michael Bouble and "Siempre Fidelis by Sousza.

The jazz band is working on challenging pieces such as "First Circle" by guitar legend Pat Metheny.

"I'm trying to create a jazz program that's competitive," Barbarita said.

The March Music Madness also will feature combined elementary school bands, a combined Mariner Middle School band and Beacon Middle School's sixth- and seventh-grade bands and its jazz ensemble. A performance by all of the district schools together on the Cape Henlopen High School stage will cap the event, Barbarita said.

"Imagine a 400-plus person band on the theater's stage," he said. "The March Music Madness festival is a great opportunity to promote the band program and also a great opportunity for students and families to get a first look at our entire program as a whole."

The high school chorus will sing in the festival and will travel to Florida with the band for its competition in April.

Band fundraising for the Orlando trip will continue the next day at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 1, at the high school when local rockabilly band Oh Boy takes the stage. Musicians Walt Hetfield, Ken Schleifer, Mike Long and Barry Eli have donated their time to help raise money for the band trip, Barbarita said. Tickets are $10 and concession items will be on sale.