Bledsoe County High School Band holds final concert

BLEDSOE COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Bledsoe County High School band held its last performance Friday, because the school board decided to cut it. Community members were there to show their support.

Music and sadness filled the Bledsoe County High School Auditorium Friday night.

The spring concert is the last time the band will perform.

Brianna Allen is a senior who plays the clarinet. She’s been in band since the sixth grade.

“I think it will hurt the school, because people are outraged. Music helps everyone in academic classes and stress relief at home and I am so broken hearted that they’ve taken it out,” Allen said.

Allen says she wouldn’t know what to do, if she didn’t have band.

“Band has helped me out of my shell and learn so much other than music. Mr. Hudson teaches us life skills and everything imaginable. It is not just music,” she said.

The school board was forced to make cuts to its budget, due to a decrease in enrollment, which resulted in a decrease in funding.  Earlier this week, they voted unanimously to get rid of the band and band director Frank Hudson.

“I know they have to make proposals of budget cuts and things of that nature, but to find out Monday night at 8:00 that the school board at voted unanimously to get rid of me and to get rid of band was devastating,” Hudson said.

At Friday’s concert, there were cheers, and community support.

“I think the school board has learned that they made a decision in haste that they thought would be affecting a small population and they have learned that that small population has a lot of roots in our community,” Hudson said.

Hudson says the music will live on.

“They might be able to get rid of me, but they won’t get rid of kids that want to play music and experience music,” Hudson said.

Allen appreciates people are rallying around something so dear to her.

“I would just like to thank everyone for coming out and supporting us tonight. I hope that this changes their mind,” Allen said.

Hundreds of people have signed a petition in support of the band, which was circulating at tonight’s concert. It will be submitted to the County Commission.