The historic Lynwood Theatre was filled with music, poetry, and community spirit May 2 as more than 75 people gathered for the inaugural Spring Showcase Open Mic Night, a student-organized fundraiser supporting the Bainbridge Band Boosters.
The event raised over $2,300 for music education programs during the ongoing budget crisis. The Lynwood Theatre donated the venue space for the event, while Island Cool contributed by donating profits from their sales, per a news release.
Bainbridge High School Junior Stella Saleh said the band students organized the event because, “Our band has been facing recent budget cuts resulting in less music classes and fewer music opportunities. Fortunately, we have a strong nonprofit Booster program run by parents who successfully fund the majority of band activities at the high school. The Band Leadership Team recognized that the bulk of the fundraising burden rested on the Boosters and wanted to start our own fundraiser.”
She added, “We hope that with this fundraiser, we could start a tradition of student advocacy in which band members would take the initiative to support the program we value so much. Aside from that, we love having opportunities to perform in the community and the open mic night lends itself perfectly for both publicizing our band and raising money.”
The three-hour variety show featured a diverse lineup of 22 performances, including jazz ensembles from Woodward Middle School and BHS Jazz9, student-parent musical duos, poetry readings, karaoke performances, and seasoned adult bands from the community. Local acts included the 2 Pats Band featuring community members Pat Miller, Pat Merit, and Pasha Saleh, and local jazz vocalist Shannon Dowling.
For Saleh, music is integral to her way of life. “Music is a foundational part of my high school experience. From jazz band at 8 a.m. to my own music practice at 9 and 10 p.m., music is the most rewarding, engaging, relaxing, and challenging activity I do. Music has led me to forge strong friendships, helped me discover life-long mentors, and taught me true discipline.”
Between acts, Saleh and BHS senior Miles Weiland kept the audience entertained with improvisational performances, often joined by senior Cole Moomaw, a member of the BHS Percussion ensemble who recently won a silver medal in Timpani Solo at the 2025 Washington Interscholastic Activities Association/Washington Music Educators Association State Solo & Ensemble Competition held at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, April 24-26.
Weiland believes the event’s success shows the community values the arts. “We had many people from all demographics show up to the event to play, sing and perform. Young, old, students, retirees, highly experienced musicians and so many more types of people, showing that the absolute whole of the community is supportive of the arts…The value of art in this community is undoubtedly whole and alive.”
In response to proposed cuts to 5th and 6th grade band programs, BHS music students have spoken at school board meetings, organized impromptu concerts on Winslow Avenue, and performed at community advocacy efforts.
“It would be a tragic loss to the education community if we were to lose any or all of the middle school music program,” Weiland said.
Pasha Saleh, father of Stella, added that what he liked most about the Spring showcase was performing with his daughter on stage. “It was very special indeed to be up on the stage with Stella, who I now consider to be a much finer musician than myself, and make up a few minutes of improvised music totally unrehearsed and unprepared! I kept thinking about how far she has come!”
The evening concluded with pep band songs and an encore performance by Finnegan Armstrong and Claire Bremer, who recently won a gold medal for their clarinet performance at the WIAA/WMEA competition.
To learn more, visit Bainbridgebands.org and follow them at facebook.com/bainbridgebands.
Nancy Treder is president of the BHS Instrumental Music Boosters
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