Five middle school bands in California's San Fernando Valley squared off in June during the first Battle of the Bands Family Music Festival to raise funds to save their music programs. Proposed state budget cuts threaten to strip schools of much-needed cash, says Esmeralda Bermudez in the L.A. Times (6/7/09). The battle took place at Sutter Middle School in Canoga Park. "The prize was a big one, considering that some schools might receive as little as $200 in spending cash next year," writes Bermudez. Competitors hailed from Sutter, Columbus, Pacoima, Gaspar de Portola and Patrick Henry middle schools. Portola's orchestra and chamber ensemble tied for first prize ($2,500) and its band took second ($750) to buy instruments, sheet music and supplies. Portola's sole music teacher, Susan Treworgy juggles the choir, orchestra, chamber ensemble and band on her own. (Thanks, ArtsEdMail.) [LINK] Posted by Linda Frye Burnham