Recently a performance of the Westlake High School Marching Band was raffeled off to raise funds for improvements to the band truck (where $1,800 was raised - pretty good for a gig).

Raffle winner Barb Kock invited about 200 of her neighbors to her Muirfield Way home where a 40-minute performance by the band and its auxiliaries — the Demonettes, Debonairs and Majorettes - was given to great response.

“This was just so cool,” Koch said after the band’s performance. “I’m glad that the neighbors came and enjoyed it.”

Koch, who also expressed relief the rain held off until after the band left to perform at Westlake’s road game Friday night at Olmsted Falls, said the performance was the talk of the neighborhood the preceeding week. She passed out fliers throughout the neighborhood to make sure everyone was aware of the concert.

“I wanted a good crowd for the band,” said Koch, who said at least four band members live in the immediate neighborhood. Koch’s son Andy is a senior at Westlake High School, and her daughter Jen, a sophomore, plays the flute in the band.

How did Jen feel about playing with the entire band at her home?

“I think she was between being thrilled and being mortified,” her mother said, “but that’s a teenage thing.”

Thanks to Kevin Kelley and WestLife for the great article, and Larry Bennet for the pictures.