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When fires raged through Northern California this summer, officials in Grass Valley decided to ban fireworks sales in the city as a precaution.
Though applauded by many residents, the ban snuffed out the opportunity for schools to raise money for extra-curricular activities with fireworks sales.
The impact was deep for programs such as the Lyman Gilmore marching band, which used proceeds to fund an upcoming trip to Disneyland, buy sheet music, repair uniforms and provide transportation to events.
The band, as well as performing arts groups from Nevada Union and Bear River high schools, all lost much-needed proceeds when the fireworks sales were banned.
After the sales were banned, John Coulter and some friends decided to try an old-school approach to raising the much-needed cash.
Why not stage an old-school talent show, with proceeds from entry fees benefiting these programs?
The result is the upcoming Nevada County’s Top Talent, which kicks off with auditions Jan. 17 and culminates with a finale Feb. 14.
Winners can receive up to $1,000 in prize money.
Singers, instrumentalists, jugglers and magicians are part of the lineup and will be judged by a panel of celebrity judges.
The competition originally was called “Nevada County’s Got Talent” but changed after organizers consulted with copyright officials to avoid confusion with the television show, “America’s Got Talent,” Coulter said. Coulter said he was assured by NBC that organizers could have used the original name if they chose.
Coulter, a musician who served as a sound engineer for the Boston Pops, the Steve Miller Band and Tower of Power, said he hasn’t estimated how much the talent competition will raise but is confident the idea will take off once people see the local talent.
“The goal this year is not necessarily how much money we earn,” Coulter said. “The goal this year is to make a template for other years.”
All of the proceeds from audition fees and gate receipts will go toward music programs, he said.
That’s good news for Lyman Gilmore principal Brian Buckley, whose band figures to have lost about $5,000 when the fireworks sales were banned.
The band has had to wait to perform on Disneyland’s Main Street USA but doesn’t have the cash.
“I don’t think there was a great deal of arguing last year about (canceling fireworks sales), but it did create a void for us,” he said. “And people are quite grateful about this opportunity.
“It has the potential of more than making up the difference in lost sales,” he said.
Buckley said some community groups have picked up the tab for several Gilmore students to audition for the talent competition.
Ray Byers, whose company is helping to underwrite the cost of the competition, said he didn’t hesitate to jump aboard this cause because of the benefits a music education provides.
“Music and the arts makes for better citizens,” he said.
To contact Staff Writer David Mirhadi, e-mail dmirhadi@theunion.com or call
Though applauded by many residents, the ban snuffed out the opportunity for schools to raise money for extra-curricular activities with fireworks sales.
The impact was deep for programs such as the Lyman Gilmore marching band, which used proceeds to fund an upcoming trip to Disneyland, buy sheet music, repair uniforms and provide transportation to events.
The band, as well as performing arts groups from Nevada Union and Bear River high schools, all lost much-needed proceeds when the fireworks sales were banned.
After the sales were banned, John Coulter and some friends decided to try an old-school approach to raising the much-needed cash.
Why not stage an old-school talent show, with proceeds from entry fees benefiting these programs?
The result is the upcoming Nevada County’s Top Talent, which kicks off with auditions Jan. 17 and culminates with a finale Feb. 14.
Winners can receive up to $1,000 in prize money.
Singers, instrumentalists, jugglers and magicians are part of the lineup and will be judged by a panel of celebrity judges.
The competition originally was called “Nevada County’s Got Talent” but changed after organizers consulted with copyright officials to avoid confusion with the television show, “America’s Got Talent,” Coulter said. Coulter said he was assured by NBC that organizers could have used the original name if they chose.
Coulter, a musician who served as a sound engineer for the Boston Pops, the Steve Miller Band and Tower of Power, said he hasn’t estimated how much the talent competition will raise but is confident the idea will take off once people see the local talent.
“The goal this year is not necessarily how much money we earn,” Coulter said. “The goal this year is to make a template for other years.”
All of the proceeds from audition fees and gate receipts will go toward music programs, he said.
That’s good news for Lyman Gilmore principal Brian Buckley, whose band figures to have lost about $5,000 when the fireworks sales were banned.
The band has had to wait to perform on Disneyland’s Main Street USA but doesn’t have the cash.
“I don’t think there was a great deal of arguing last year about (canceling fireworks sales), but it did create a void for us,” he said. “And people are quite grateful about this opportunity.
“It has the potential of more than making up the difference in lost sales,” he said.
Buckley said some community groups have picked up the tab for several Gilmore students to audition for the talent competition.
Ray Byers, whose company is helping to underwrite the cost of the competition, said he didn’t hesitate to jump aboard this cause because of the benefits a music education provides.
“Music and the arts makes for better citizens,” he said.
To contact Staff Writer David Mirhadi, e-mail dmirhadi@theunion.com or call
