Sacred Heart Catholic School is very excited to announce the addition of a band program as an extracurricular activity. Mr. Ray Lawrence will be offering instrument instruction for students entering 5th grade through 8th grade.

Some important facts to consider when deciding if this is something your child would like to participate in:

•  Time: Formal instruction - Tuesday and Thursday Mornings from 7am-8am
   Commitment to practice 30 minutes a day at home

•  Cost: Rental of instrument $125.00 a month for the lessons (breaks down to about $16 a lesson)

The hope is that next year the program would become an integral part of the curriculum and Mr. Lawrence would be an added member to the staff. The key component to this decision will be the amount of participation and the student and parental commitment to this program.

All About Mr. Lawrence
Ray Lawrence was born and raised in northeast Iowa. At age 11 Mr. Lawrence began playing trumpet. In 1967, Mr. Lawrence graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in music and applied trumpet from University of Upper Iowa. Mr. Lawrence began his career as a music teacher in Iowa in the fall of 1967. In 1970, Mr. Lawrence joined the United States Air Force as a trumpet player in the Air Force Band. Mr. Lawrence served at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois. While serving in the Air Force Band Mr. Lawrence served as a band librarian, NCOIC of various small ensembles, head of band operations and served as a trumpet section leader. During his time at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Mr. Lawrence graduated from The University of Alaska, Anchorage Campus with a Masters Degree in Secondary School Administration. After being honorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 1977, Mr. Lawrence returned to Anchorage to teach music and social studies. In 1983, Mr. Lawrence and his family moved back to the middle Georgia area. Mr. Lawrence taught music for 10 years and initiated the elementary choir and band program at St. Joseph's Catholic School in Macon. In 1992, Dr. Douglas Hill, head of instrumental wind ensembles at Mercer University, and Mr. Lawrence co-founded Colony IV Brass Quintet, of which they are both active members. Mr. Lawrence is also a member of the Georgia Big Band trumpet section, the Frank Hudlow Reading Jazz Band and freelances as a trumpet player professionally. Mr. Lawrence is active in the music ministry at the 9:00 AM Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.