PSU hopes to leave an impression on high school musicians

Supervising and teaching 200 high school band members might seem like a nightmare to some people, but to Craig Fuchs, chairman of the Pittsburg State University Music Department, it is not only fun, but a golden opportunity.

Fuchs, who is directing the Kansas Lions Band Camp this week, said the student musicians are a talented and energetic group. Most, he said, have driven many hours from their homes across the state to participate in the band camp and most have never been on the Pittsburg State University campus or in southeast Kansas.

"We have some great opportunities for students in PSU's Music Department and when these students make their college plans, we want them to remember what they experienced at PSU," Fuchs said.

Fuchs noted that PSU's musical outreach will be significant this summer. Following the Lions convention, PSU will also host the state Shrine Bowl Band and the Cutting Edge drum and bugle corps competition. All together, Fuchs said, PSU expects to have about 1,200 high school musicians on campus who otherwise might never have considered or visited the university.

The Kansas Lions Band will perform two concerts open to the public. The first, featuring the chamber groups and jazz band, will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 2, in the Gazebo at Gorilla Village just east of Carnie Smith Stadium. The second, at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, will be in the Pittsburg High School gymnasium.

---Pitt State---