Palms Resort Saipan acting manager Ray Dela Cruz said the lunch was in appreciation of the band’s victory in representing the islands at the New York Music festival last April.
“With the Manta Ray Band’s accomplishment, I hope all the other schools not only on Saipan but Tinian and Rota will duplicate their achievements,” Dela Cruz said.
Palms Resort played host for Manta Ray Band’s guest conductor Maestro Atsushi Ozawa from Japan for seven days.
Dela Cruz said he and DeWitt are planning to hold a free concert for the community at the hotel very soon. He said they have yet to decide on the actual venue and the date of the concert.
Dela Cruz said a couple of years ago, the Manta Ray Band performed at the hotel’s Fresco Restaurant.
Band conductor William DeWitt said Palms Resort Saipan has always been a staunch supporter of SSHS.
DeWitt said they chose the Palms Resort Saipan for their photo session for a “Memory Book” or a mini-year book they will be doing for the Manta Ray Band.
“We feel that the Palms Resort is our partner, and this is the first time that the band will be coming up with a memory book containing all photos of their performances here and at the Carnegie Hall in New York. DeWitt said they hope to finish the memory book before graduation.
“16 of the 40 Manta Ray Band members will be graduating and we hope to distribute the books to them before they leave school,” DeWitt said.
He said they are waiting for the official photos from Carnegie Hall to incorporate with their photos to complete the 2-DVD set which they will be distributing to the community soon.
The Manta Ray Band played the national anthem at the Memorial Day ceremony at the CNMI Veterans Cemetery on Monday morning.
On May 26, the band staged a “thank you” concert to the community at American Memorial Park with two other bands from SSHS.
