Local drumline needs help to compete in Las Vegas
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RIGBY — A local indoor drumline is asking for the public’s help to raise money to attend a competition in Las Vegas.
Rigby-based Troopercussion Indoor needs nearly $6,000 in the next 20 days to go to Las Vegas to compete in the Winter Guard International Regional competition. The program was started five years ago and provides the opportunity for youth in the area to compete in drumming competitions.
“We have had support from the community, fundraisers and grants, but we are still short,” Executive Director Jason Lenz said. “We had a few students with hardships not able to pay tuition, which caused us to be behind.”
The organization is a nonprofit and relies on grants, donations and tuition from students to compete and keep the program going. Leaders say the program provides a positive educational experience that helps youth learn life skills and promotes the arts. Individuals under the age of 23 are allowed to join.
“The average age of the group is 16,” Lenz said. “This group is young compared to the other groups we compete with.”
Students travel from as far as Provo, Utah, and Boise to participate in the program. It is run “camp style,” where the 32 students and instructors meet on a few weekends a month and practice all Friday evening and Saturday. When the group gets closer to competing, they meet every week to prepare.
Troopercussion has preformed in several competitions and performs drum shows that feature different drums to tell a story. This season’s theme is the “Time Keeper,” which invokes images of clocks, gears and time. The group works with Rigby High School, borrowing equipment and using the gymnasium for practice.
For information on the organization, visit its website at troopercussionindoor.org or its GoFundMe page.