Photo provided Ohio Music Education Association President-Elect Brian Stevens, right, shakes hands with Belpre Performing Arts Boosters President George Holland during a boosters meeting Monday at Belpre High School after Stevens announced the local organization had been selected to receive the association’s Outstanding Music Support Group Award at its professional development conference in February. Also pictured are, from left, boosters Secretary Amanda Morris, Vice President Ashley Matheny and Treasurer Linda Gibbs.

BELPRE — The Belpre Performing Arts Boosters were recognized this week by the Ohio Music Education Association for their efforts supporting choir, drama and band programs.

The boosters were notified during a meeting Monday that they’d been chosen to receive the Outstanding Music Support Group Award from the association, which advocates for comprehensive music education programs for all students. The official presentation is planned during the association’s professional development conference Feb. 1-3 in Columbus.

Boosters President George Holland said Monday’s meeting in the Belpre High School band room had to do with preparations for an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World for a workshop. When he saw a guest he didn’t know, he thought it was a representative of the travel agency working with them on the trip. When the man introduced himself as Brian Stevens, president-elect of the Ohio Music Education Association, “I still didn’t think anything of this as our marching band had had a tremendous year when only a few short years ago the marching band was non-existent,” Holland said. “I thought that maybe he had come to talk to our group and parents about our year and congratulate us.”

Stevens invited Holland and the other officers to the front of the room and informed them of the award, which recognizes groups that have made significant contributions to developing or maintaining comprehensive music programs.

“I was in awe,” Holland said. “I did not expect this. We are not the only music education booster program in the state of Ohio and to, not just be nominated, but chosen by the Ohio Music Education Association for the award … what an honor!” The group was nominated by Belpre High School Music, Band and Choir Director Bill Van Pelt.

“This was an opportunity, as a music educator and OMEA member, to show my gratitude and appreciation for the activities they have organized for our students and staff,” he said.

That includes fundraising through running the concession stands at football and soccer games, various sales and arranging student service at community events to ensure students are able to afford their band fees.

“The boosters go above and beyond to always ensure that students are able to participate in the performing arts regardless of their ability to pay,” Van Pelt said.

“If a student is unable to pay their fees and cannot participate in the fundraisers, the boosters will supply assistance. The BPAB also supplies T-shirts to the students throughout the marching band season specifically as well as providing food at various times throughout the year.”

The organization’s contributions “are vital to the continued success of the performing arts programs,” he said.

The Belpre Performing Arts Boosters were formed by the merging of individual choir, drama and band booster groups over the years, Van Pelt said.

Holland said a successful booster organization needs to have people willing to put in hours and hours of personal time and “be on the same page of ‘We’re doing this for the kids.’

“I honestly believe that our group of boosters and parent volunteers are the epitome of this,” he said.

Holland thanked the music and band teachers, students’ families, local businesses and the Belpre community for their support of the school’s music programs.

Membership in the BPAB is open to all band, choir and drama students at Belpre High and Elementary Schools. The group meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month in the high school band room.