Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Drums were pounding, guitars were strumming and trumpets were blasting Sept. 13 as SAD 1 held its end-of-summer concert at Mantle Lake Park in Presque Isle.
Dan Schneider, music director for SAD 1, said he was very pleased with this year’s “Music at Mantle.”
“I thought it went very well,” he said. “I was pleased to see people come out; we had nice weather, so that’s always a plus. It was a good day.”
Music at Mantle originally started back in the early 1990s as Jazz at the Beach, which was held at the Aroostook State Park.
“We’ve done Rockin’ at Riverside held at Riverside Park, Tunes & Trails, which was at the Nordic Heritage Center, and then Music at Mantle a number of times,” said Schneider. “We had been at Riverside Park the last couple of years, so it was nice to go back to Mantle.”
In addition to providing community members with musical entertainment, Music at Mantle also serves as a fund-raiser.
“We sell hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, french fries, cookies, soda and water,” said Schneider. “We also sell raffle tickets and draw tickets on items that have been donated by area businesses throughout the day, which makes it fun.”
This year’s Music at Mantle raised $1,498.59. Officials said $1,026 was raised through the sale of raffle tickets, while $472.59 was from the sale of concessions.
All proceeds will benefit the 2012 Music Festival Trip.
“Every four years we try to take a cultural trip,” said Schneider. “Last year we went for the third time to New York City which is a wonderful destination. This allows each student the opportunity to attend an International Music Festival once during their high school career.
“Performing at a festival of this caliber is important to the kids as they strive to meet an international standard,” he said. “There are really two aspects of the festival trip – namely the musical and the cultural components.”
Among those performing at the late-summer concert were the Presque Isle High School Game (Pep) Band, PIHS Chorus, the Presque Isle Middle School and PIHS jazz bands, as well as Robert Helstrom, a former Aroostook Idol finalist and band director at Fort Fairfield Middle-High School. Dancers from MoonDance Studios also performed during the day.
“We had a lot of help; it takes a lot to put something like that on especially with the food,” said Schneider. “We were very pleased with the support we received from members of the SAD 1 Music Boosters. It was a good time.”
Next year’s concert will also be held at Mantle Lake Park.
“This year’s event was so successful,” Schneider said, “that we’ve already reserved the park for next year. It will be the second Saturday in September, so mark your calendars. It’s the first public performance of the school year, and the kids are always excited about it. It’s always a lot of fun.”
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
THE PRESQUE ISLE HIGH SCHOOL Game (Pep) Band, which featured everything from electric guitars to tubas, got the crowd moving to the music at this year’s end-of-summer concert, Music at Mantle.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
MEMBERS OF THE PRESQUE ISLE HIGH SCHOOL Jazz Band who performed Sept. 13 at Music at Mantle included, front row, from left: Lucas Cyr and Laurel Curtis. Back row: Josh Jones, Adam Scott and Aidan Sawyer.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
PRESQUE ISLE HIGH SCHOOL Game Band drummer Matt Labbe kept the beat Sept. 13 during the band’s performance at Music at Mantle, a fund-raiser for the SAD 1 Music Boosters. Music at Mantle originally started back in the early 1990s as Jazz at the Beach, which was held at the Aroostook State Park.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
THE PRESQUE ISLE MIDDLE SCHOOL Jazz Band was one of the groups that entertained Sept. 13 at Music at Mantle held at Mantle Lake Park in Presque Isle. A fund-raiser for the SAD 1 Music Boosters, this year’s Music at Mantle raised $1,498.59. All proceeds will benefit the 2012 Music Festival Trip.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
VOLUNTEERS with the SAD 1 Music Boosters cooked hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs and french fries during this year’s Music at Mantle. A little over $472 was raised through the sale of concessions. All proceeds will benefit the 2012 Music Festival Trip, which is expected to be in New York City.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
TRUMPETEERS from the Presque Isle Middle School Jazz Band who participated in this year’s Music at Mantle, a fund-raiser for the SAD 1 Music Boosters, included, from left: Gabe Player, Caleb Hobbs, Kyle Goupille, Chelsey Carroll (Presque Isle High School) and Logan Craig.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
LEADING COMMUNITY MEMBERS in a cheer during one of their songs at Music at Mantle was the Presque Isle High School Game (Pep) Band, led by band director Dan Schneider.
