Lake Wales Highlander Band Director, Meagan Delacerda, only wants the best for the kids who have worked so hard to find success; they are doing it with drums, flags and a tremendous assortment of other instruments.

The LWHS band has been in a building stage recently, and Delacerda is heading up a growing band program, one that Lake Wales locals love to hear about.

“When I first came in the program in February of 2023 there were 25 people in the advanced band and 10 of them were seniors,” she says. “We slowly started building and we now have 96 members in our marching band and over 155 in our overall program.”

As the band program has been growing quickly, the momentum has only escalated.

“We recently had our 8th grade night where we have over 154 studnets in the band stands who are planning on being apart of the Highlander band,” says Delacerda.

“We have had numerous students make all-state and all-county. We have a jazz band, wind ensemble, symphonic band, beginning band, percussion ensemble and color guard (indoor and outdoor). We are trying to move this program along as much as we can and it is working!”

This year, Delacerda’s goal for the band is to go to state (competition).

“They have worked so hard on our show, “Mi amor”, and we felt as though they were ready. When we finally did make state there was the problem of how do we get them there?”

Now that the Highlanders band has earned their spot at the state competition, scheduled for November 16 at Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School in Palm Beach County, FL, their director wants to see them rewarded for their efforts by securing their transportation.

“Lake Wales High School is known for how outstanding our sports programs are,” says Delacerda. “It is not out of the ordinary to have a sport make it to state on this campus. However, the arts is a different story. I believe what these students do is, in a lot of ways, a sport in its self. The countless hours of outside running around on a field pushing air through instruments would tell you that, but there is an artist side to it that is also in effect.”

This is where the Lake Wales community has the opportunity to show their support of the band program they’ve enjoyed for so many years.

This with be the first time in 17 years that the Lake Wales Highlander Band will attend the state competition. Delacerda wants to see them go in style and comfort.

“I brought the idea to my administration on getting the students charter buses for that day instead of the big yellow buses. They deserve to be in a comfortable setting for such an important event.

“They said ‘of course, they would love too’ but our booster club would need to pay a portion. Our Lake Wales Band boosters have been working tirelessly throughout the year to raise funds to support the band in any way they can so we are trying to build up our funds to get our kids to state!”

If the band makes it to the top 5 at State on Nov. 16, they can attend the finals which will be held at Jupiter High School that same night.

To donate to the fund covering expenses to transport the Lake Wales Highlander Band to State, use Zelle:

[email protected]