Martin Thomas, a graduate of Mamou High School, recently traveled to a band instrument auction in Arkansas and purchased 42 instruments to donate to the Ville Platte High School and Mamou High School marching bands. He said he was inspired to do this because his niece wanted to join the band but her mom couldn’t afford to purchase an instrument. Thomas was a former band student under Director Caroline Fruge at Mamou High School. He started out playing trumpet and switched to baritone. In addition to the donated instruments, he also donated his personal trumpet. Shown holding some of the donated instruments, from left, are Assistant Superintendent Mike Lombas, John Irion (Assistant Band Director at Mamou High and Pine Prairie High), Fruge, Mamou High Principal Rico Guillory, Thomas, Ville Platte High Principal Chenile Tezeno, Jim Price (Ville Platte High Band Director), Dustin Smith (Ville Platte High and Basile High Talented Band) and Taylor Naquin (Talented Music/Percussion Director Pine Prairie High). (Gazette photo by Heather Bogard)
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