By Pepper Fisher

SEQUIM – The Sequim City Band is on the verge of completing a year-long fundraising campaign to get an expanded rehearsal hall adjacent to the band shell in Carrie Blake Park.

At a price tag of over a million dollars, the non-profit group has raised about 95% and is now in their final push to the end. Publicity Director Vicky Blakesley, who also plays bass clarinet in the orchestra, says it’s been a 3-part campaign, beginning with a successful grant writing effort, which netted substantial funding.

“So that was the first effort. We also went to our own band members and our very solid audience and asked them to start putting in some of the seed money, so we could show the foundations that we had commitment, we had real enthusiasm for the project. And then, lastly, the thing that we kicked off was to reach out to the local community. That’s our third wave.”

Swisher Hall, as it’s known, was built as part of the James Center for the Performing Arts in 2005 to be the rehearsal facility for the Sequim City Band, the Sequim Community Orchestra, the Strings Kids Program, and several other ensembles. It was intended to for use by about 35 people. The Sequim Band is up to 70 members now, and the room is nowhere near large enough for everyone to practice together.

The new wing will be 2,500 square feet of open space, plenty of room for the whole band, with better acoustics. As for the old room; well, as grows the band, so grows the need for storage space.

“We have over 1,300 pieces of music, the band owns. I think we’re now up to 14 cabinets-worth of music. And we have a full percussion section, just like a regular concert band does. And so, that room is fairly full. I mean, it’s still a good space for small groups, like upwards to eight people practicing in there, even with all our equipment. So this can be a storage room.”

New lighting and HVAC systems will also be a huge step up and improve the overall comfort, safety, and usability of the hall.

If you’re considering donating, check out the website at sequimcityband.org to learn more, see photos and meet the band members. Donations can also be mailed directly to the band, but please note on your donation that it is for the Rehearsal Hall.