An affinity for band inspired Durango High School junior Brandon Gallegos to build instrument storage cabinets for his Eagle Scout project.
Brandon, 16, is a longtime member of Boy Scout Troop 538. He said he joined the Boy Scouts when he was in third grade.
“My favorite part of being a Boy Scout is the skills we learn and meeting new people at summer camps,” Brandon said. “You get really unique friendships from it.”
As part of the Eagle Scout rank requirements, he has to plan and develop a service project helpful to any school, community or religious institution.
Brandon has been involved in the band for six years, and he plays the trumpet.
He said the lack of storage space in the band room gave him the idea for his service project.
“The drumline section of the band room could be better,” Brandon said. “I had a friend who said he was afraid the drums might fall through the previous frame because it was flimsy and falling apart.”
The marching tenor drums were previously stored in a corner of the room on the floor, Brandon said, and that made him nervous.
“I know these instruments should be handled with care, but there was no proper place to put the tenors,” he said.
Brandon and his friends, fellow Boy Scouts and family began cutting wood, sanding and assembling the cases last Tuesday.
For his part, Brandon was in charge of overseeing the entire project. The group constructed two drumline cases, a harness rack, clothing rack and a whiteboard outside the classroom.
Band Director Katharine Reed said the impact Brandon’s project will have on students is huge.
“We have such a rapidly growing program, we are playing sardines,” she said. “This project is taking our storage space and doubling it. It is essential right now, and this is one of the most impactful Eagle Scout projects I’ve ever seen. It will benefit over 250 students.”
mrupani@durangoherald.com
