How North Myrtle Beach locals helped high school band to first state championship
When the school year started, North Myrtle Beach High School band director Peter DiLeo didn’t picture taking his students to their first state championship in program history. This weekend, that’s what he’ll do.
The band qualified for the state championship in Columbia, but because the trip wasn’t expected, there wasn’t room in the budget for transportation. The band got around $2,500 from the school but that was only enough for one bus, DiLeo said.
So band parents and North Myrtle Beach locals stepped up.
Within four or five hours, they had raised the other $2,500 necessary to get the students to the competition.
“Our community has been super awesome helping get us down the road,” DiLeo said.
Donations flooded in from local residents and businesses wanting to support their local school, monetary recognition of the students’ hard work throughout the season. For the majority of the band, it’s their first year competing after two years of pandemic-induced interruptions.
“The kids are playing so well and they’re working so hard,” DiLeo said. “It came down to the kids.”
After five years at North Myrtle Beach High School, DiLeo is leading the band to its first state championship in school history. They’ll play some fan favorites like Elvis classics and My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade,” accompanied by some classical arrangements and original music.
“The kids are ecstatic,” DiLeo said. “I’ve been speechless most of the week. I’m just trying to capture the moment.”
