My newspaper article

Former student a super volunteer for Oceanside High Band
By TOM MORROW – For the North County Times

OCEANSIDE —- Jeremy Grasz was a member of the Oceanside High School Band for three years, and since graduating, he’s continued to play a number of vital roles as a band volunteer, equipment manager, videographer and Web master.

With the tremendous amount of equipment needed to be moved for all off-campus programs, competitions, and appearances, someone has to take charge and see that it’s safely delivered in time for performances, band organizers said. That someone is Grasz.

This former trumpet player has been a volunteer with the Band Boosters for the past 10 years.

“I really enjoy working with the band program,” Grasz said last week. “I admired a lot of the Booster volunteers when I was a student, so I wanted to make sure students continue to enjoy the experience as much as I did.”

Grasz reckons he spends an average of up to 15 hours each week volunteering: arranging transportation, renting and driving an equipment truck, supervising the loading and unloading of the various instruments needed for a show. Color guard and drum line performances are the most work-intensive.

“Jeremy is the nuts and bolts of our program,” said band director Mark Phelps. “He helps hold it all together and makes everything run smooth.

“He drives our equipment truck, maintains our Web site, (and) is our photographer and videographer. He is there at every concert, competition and event, making sure everything is set up and ready to go.”

Grasz says he doesn’t do everything. He has help from parent boosters, and for the most part, students help load and unload equipment from the truck.

“Each student takes their own instrument on the bus with them to out-of-town performances and competitions, but we take everything for the color guard and drum line —- things such as vibraphones, marimbas, flags, and drums.

“I usually have at least five Booster parents helping me,” he said.

Any transportation nightmares?

“Yeah, one trip to Anaheim, we rented a diesel truck that had been filled with unleaded fuel by a previous renter,” Grasz said, chuckling. “We made it up to Anaheim OK, but on the way back the engine started sputtering at about Las Pulgas Road. We were able to nurse it on into town, but she died right in the high school parking lot.

“What saved us was that, I guess, diesel fuel is heavier than regular fuel, so it sank to the bottom and ran OK as far as it went,” he said. “But that diesel engine didn’t like unleaded.”

Grasz’s day job is working as maintenance technician at Best Buy in Oceanside.

“I primarily work on all of our equipment displays, making sure they all work properly when the store opens each day,” he said. That technological know-how has also served the band well.

“I maintain the Web site (www.oceansideband.org), keep it updated, and upload videos to YouTube,” Grasz said.

Fall is the busiest season for the Oceanside High band. Grasz said the band travels to no fewer than 10 marching band contests and performances.

In the winter and spring, drum line and color guard have another six out-of-town performances and competitions, and at least two concert band trips.

Grasz’s younger brother, Stephen, who plays trumpet in the band, graduates this spring.

“I probably will work for the band at least another two years, but I’ll make sure whoever takes my place will be dedicated to the job —- it’s that important,” Grasz said.

Original article is posted at the North County Times