Band to kick off tour in Amsterdam – Amsterdam Recorder – 10.09.09
Band to kick off tour in Amsterdam
Jessica Maher
Reporter
10/09/09
Amsterdam High School students will attend a rock concert next week by international recording artists Thirteen Yards to Victory in their very own Bert DeRose Theater.
The Boston-based band will offer AHS a preview of their upcoming tour for their newly released EP, “American Dreamers.”
“We’re all really excited for it,” said Dave Rossi, bass player of 13 YTV.
More than just a performance on Oct. 14, open to students and invited guests only, the five band members will return to the school on Oct. 15 to take part in peer education sessions during regularly scheduled music classes.
“This is for the guys to share their experiences from a peer perspective,” said 13 YTV Manager Fred Balboni. “The key message is to keep focused.”
Inspired by President Barack Obama’s “United We Serve” campaign and The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, 13 YTV decided to add a community service aspect to their band. Their visit to AHS will serve as the prototype for a tour of high schools across the United States.
Balboni said that Gina DeRossi, Greater Amsterdam School District Board of Education president, is responsible for the band’s visit. DeRossi also does public relations work for the band with Balboni, who said she “did everything but offer up her first born child” to get the band to jump-start their tour at AHS.
“I think it’s a very positive thing for both the district and the community,” said DeRossi.
AHS Principal David Ziskin agreed.
“It’s a great opportunity for AHS and another instance of the culture we’re trying to build here – embracing all types of learning,” he said.
Rossi said the band will entertain any number of questions from the students on Thursday, and will talk about how their musical career took shape and how band and music classes affected them during their high school years.
In a proclamation presented by Mayor Ann Thane during Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, 13 YTV received an official endorsement and welcome to the city.
The band have also started an “I’m an American Dreamer” contest, open to any person or organization across the United States, and invites submissions to creatively illustrate what an American dreamer is, using a variety of means. The winner in each state will be distributed proceeds of the band’s EP, and be able to designate a school district where the funds will be used. The only stipulation is that the money given to a district must be earmarked for arts music education.
The band will play two performances of about 30 minutes each on Oct. 14, with WCSS 1490-AM broadcasting the entirety of the first concert, which starts at 9:30 a.m.
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Contact Jessica Maher at jessica.maher@recordernews.com.
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