The Pilot Point ISD Band program returned with its Chili Chowdown for a second year in a row on Tuesday.
The event, which returned last year after a long hiatus, gives both high school and middle school students an opportunity to give their talent to the community while raising a little money for the program in the process.
“It’s a way for us to bring our community together, play out a little and raise some money for the program, too,” head band director Dan Balkema said. “We just thought we’d continue it. It’s a great thing for the kids and community.”
While the kids contribute their mu- sic, it falls to the community to supply the grub, which they did in spades turning 12 pots of chili at the last event into over 16 during this second year.
“Many years ago, the Pilot Point Band Boosters did this,” Balkema said. “It was way before I even got here, but it kind of slowly diminished off. Jennifer Tullis, a seventh-grade teacher over at the middle school and also a booster member, wanted to explore bringing it back last year and it was a huge success.”
One mom, Kim Perusse, spoke about the value of events like the chowdown and the band as a whole while her daughter, Trinity Toshach, played alongside the rest of the jazz band to kick off the event.
“I’m from a bigger school and it wasn’t such a tight-knit family,” Perusse said. “No one seemed to care about any kids except their own. When we do this, everyone cares about everyone’s kid. We’re such a small town, but we’re such a big community and it brings the town together.”
She highlighted another student’s father recording both his son and later her daughter during a pair of sax solos as an example.
Toshach, a sophomore, soloed on tenor sax with the jazz band before joining the state ensemble clarinet group for another set.
'Having them come see us makes it feel like they’re giving us their support for when we go to competition,” Toshach said. “It just gives me more motivation. It’s nerve-racking but gives me the chance to get better and prepares me to play in front of a bigger crowd.”
Later, the crowd of parents and community members shuffl ed into the gym, bowls and boats of chili in hand, to listen to the middle school band as well.
“Our middle school bands are getting ready to perform next Monday for UIL middle school, so it’s another opportunity for them to play for their parents in a looser setting,” Balkema said.
Superintendent Dr. Shannon Fuller, who joined the crowd both in listening to the music and sampling the provisions, spoke about the value of the districts extracurriculars finding a way to offer kids additional opportunities to apply the skills they are honing in school outside of core classes.
“It means the world for the kids and directors to have people show up, and it’s essential to keep it going,” Fuller said. “Extracurriculars are the reason why most kids come to school, so as much as we can make kids feel a part of school and successful only serves to better their experience.”
