Stepping In So the

When the band room at Loma Prieta and C.T. English fell silent, it wasn’t because students had lost interest. After decades of teaching and playing music, district music teacher Casey Lelake was diagnosed with a hearing condition.

While she can continue teaching music, her audiologist strongly advised her not to teach band. This was devastating to Casey and the more than 60 fourth- through eighth-grade students in the successful band program she had built up for years.

This could have meant the end of band at our small school district, but instead it became the beginning of a partnership led by C.T. English alumni Tobias Horton and Elijah Asheghian. Now juniors at Los Gatos High School, Tobias and Elijah were both members of the C.T. English band and have been involved in the LGHS band since their freshman year.

When they heard that the band program might disappear at Loma Prieta and C.T. English, they jumped into action. “The idea that students at Loma and C.T. would not be able to get the band experience that would enable them to participate in band at the high school just didn’t sit right,”

Tobias said. Last summer, Tobias and Elijah worked with the school administration, parents, and Casey on a plan to continue band as an extra-curricular activity. “Ms. Lelake has been so helpful, guiding us in this process, providing us with music books, and sharing her experience,” noted Elijah.

Every Sunday, a group of almost 20 musicians show up to learn and practice for an hour or two. One band is made up of fourth- and fifth-graders, the other is for the middle-school students. At the beginning to come up every Sunday to help. These young people, some of whom had never been in our Santa Cruz Mountains, have showed up and volunteered their time and talents to share their love of music with younger students.

In late January, the Loma band put on a performance in the forum at Loma Prieta Elementary School. The room was filled with appreciative spectators and the bands sounded awesome. After the performance, a parent, whose son Lincoln is an eighth-grader in the band, told Elijah and Tobias, “You’ve done more for your in just a few months than I did during both high school and college combined. Great job.”

The boys agree that it isn’t always easy. Planning rehearsals, managing behavior, and keeping students motivated takes work. But it’s work they’ve come to value. Tobias and Elijah’s quiet commitment stands out. They didn’t step in for recognition, credit, or to have something impressive on their college applications.

They stepped in because a room full of students still wanted to play, and someone needed to count them in. of the school year, some students arrived knowing how to play their instrument. Others were beginners. Their instruments include trumpet, flute, clarinet, trombone, bass clarinet, and percussion.

Attendance is very strong. Elijah noted that when they scheduled a rehearsal on the last Sunday before the end of winter break, he thought no one would show up. Almost everyone was there. For the younger students, seeing high- school students take time out of their own busy schedules sends a powerful message: That they matter.

Tobias also said: “We wanted mountain kids to have someone older to connect with at the high school. It’s nice to have those connections when you move down the hill.” Casey shared, “These boys jumped through so many hoops. They recruited students, worked with administration, gathered sponsorship from the Loma and C.T. English home and school clubs, inventoried instruments, wrote lesson plans …. all on their own time and initiative.”

Tobias and Elijah weren’t working alone. They recruited LGHS band members from town