There’s no shortage of kids who want to play in the school band in Albert Lea. But the surge in new band students has the program scrambling for instruments.

So the program has kicked off a fund-raiser to raise $50,000 for new instruments for the core program and marching band, according to Albert Lea High School Director of Bands Scott Fitzsimonds.

Fitzsimonds said the middle school band program has nearly doubled in the past two years, with 170 sixth-graders having started this year. There are also 110 seventh-graders and 100 eighth-graders in band, he said.

&uot;Next year, if we don’t have the instruments for them to play, they won’t be able to take part in band, or they’ll have to buy their own instruments,&uot; he said. Given the numbers already in the program, it won’t be possible for middle school students to bring their current instruments on to the high school, because they’ll be needed for the younger grades.

Fitzsimonds said the band program is &uot;doing everything it can to raise funds.&uot; A recent fund-raiser brought in $5,500, and another is scheduled for spring. They’ve also gotten a portion of concert proceeds to use for instruments, and the marching band boosters have committed to donate $23,000 over three years, with $10,000 to be paid the first year.

In addition, Alliance Pipeline has donated $1,500 to the marching band program and another $5,000 to the core program.

Fitzsimonds said he is working with the school district in trying to implement an instrument replacement plan.

The director said anyone interested in donating to the band program may do so by sending donations, earmarked for the band program, to him at Albert Lea High School, 2000 Tiger Lane, Albert Lea. Anyone with questions can call Fitzsimonds at 379-5385.