ELHS Band and Orchestra Night Out Returns
The East Lansing High School Band and Orchestra will have their annual Night Out fundraiser on this Sunday, Sept. 19. Groups of students, accompanied by their instruments, will go door-to-door to perform for households in the community.
The fundraiser, which is organized by the East Lansing Band and Orchestra Parents Association (ELBOPA), is an annual tradition, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they were unable to do it last year. And this year, since there’s a lower number of students in band and orchestra due to Covid, they had to cut the routes from around 40 down to 25.
Those 25 groups, each comprised of five or six students with a variety of instruments and sometimes even color guard members, will make their way to each house on their route, offering to perform in exchange for a donation. They offer to play music they have rehearsed, like the fight song, or previous performance pieces, and they also take song requests.
“The experience is fantastic,” ELHS band student Wes Millhouse said. “Us students get to play the music we love, playing in groups with other students we love to be with. It’s also great to see people’s reactions to us playing. I’m especially looking forward to that this year after our year and a half of being separated.”

Photo courtesy of East Lansing Band and Orchestra Parent Association.
Micah O’Neal, Evan Johnson, Bailey Nicholson, and Uyi Idusuyi pose in the new marching band uniforms.They can collect cash, check, and electronic donations through PayPal. According to band director Dave Larzelere, the money raised during Night Out goes to purchasing new instruments, their annual year-end awards, clinicians that come work with the students, and other miscellaneous equipment needs.
Night Out serves as more than just a fundraiser. It also allows for the students to connect with the community and build the program.
According to Night Out coordinator Meaghan Gonzales, the young children who watch the students perform often get excited and start to look forward to when they will be able to play instruments too. Additionally, after seeing the performances at Night Out, neighborhood associations have contacted Gonzales to ask if a quartet can come to their association meetings and block parties. This year, she received several requests from people asking that their houses are included on a route.
“I am so excited that we can do Night Out this year just for the students to re-engage in their community,” Gonzales said. “I love the sense of pride that they take when they come back to their community and how the community connects.”
And for the students, Night Out is an opportunity for a good time.
“This always goes down as a great memory for all the students,” Larzelere said. “They enjoy being with each other and playing their instruments. The memories and stories that come out of this night are just part of the fun.”