Manta Band director, William Dewitt in a telephone interview yesterday said eight of the musicians who went to China weeks ago to join the 2008 Olympic Orchestra had made it there after the Guam Territorial Band pay for their travel cost.
The Manta Band from Saipan Southern High School and Saipan Pacific Wind Concert Band are among the island’s musicians who were selected to participate in the Olympic opening tomorrow.
Dewitt said that as early as last March, the musicians from Saipan had to pay an amount close to $40,000 upfront for travel and accommodation cost. But since there not enough money that time, the Guam Territorial Band lent them the money.
Despite the fund raisings they held while doing the practice, the Manta Band members were not able to have the much.
Before Saipan delegates left, the adults members managed to pay the money they owed to Guam musicians.
But some of Manta Band members who are mostly high school students were still short of $6,000.
Dewitt said that a couple of them almost decided not to go, as they could not assure to pay the money.
The music director who, aside from helping them out with the music also helped them raised money, was able to convince the young musicians to go. They can help together take care of the problem when they return home.
