Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series on the Fairhope Middle School Band program.

Although Fairhope Middle School is seeking a $20,000 grant in the “create” category from The Clorox Foundation’s “Power A Bright Future” program, if the school’s “Making Music in Middle School” application gets the most votes overall, it will receive a $50,000 grant to support its band program.

The winners in three $20,000 categories are based on the most number of votes cast in each category at the Power a Bright Future website, www.clorox.com, with the top vote-getter overall winning the $50,000 grant.

The public has until Nov. 1 to vote, with the winners announced Dec. 8.

“Our band program continues to grow each year, which means we are in need of more instruments and equipment,” FMS band director Jennifer Salley said. “This grant will help further the children’s musical education, as well as supply them with all of the program equipment needed.”

On Monday, Salley led a class of about 50 students in a symphonic band class, comprised mostly of 8th-graders but some 7th-graders, she said. The overall band has 131 members and will perform Nov. 18 at the Lighting of the Trees in downtown Fairhope, and during its annual Christmas Concert on Dec. 14 at a venue not yet decided.

“Our band is so large, and we have beginners join us from Fairhope Intermediate and J. Larry Newton schools,” she said, of the December concert, which also functions as the band’s annual fundraiser. “We’re looking for just the right place.”

Students in the band play the following instruments: flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxphone, tenor saxophone, bari saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, tuba and percussion instruments.

The FMS band program also has concert and jazz band programs, Salley said.

“In addition to the math and reading skills the band program teaches every day, it also teaches the students how to work together,” she said. “There’s a lot of personal discipline involved.”

A parent of a FMS band student brought the Clorox grant program to Salley’s attention that led to the band program’s nomination, which means it’s now vying for the $20,000 grant with 451 other schools in the “create” program and nearly 1,600 overall for the $50,000 grant.

“This is a big chance for us to help,” said Jon Balousek, vice president, Clorox Cleaning Division. “Power A Bright Future provides a huge opportunity for Clorox to continue its commitment to America’s schools, and make a positive difference in the lives of children.”

The Clorox Co. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with 8,300 employees and fiscal year 2010 revenues of $5.53 billion, according to a company press release. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Co. Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $80 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges. In fiscal year 2010, the foundation awarded $3.5 million in cash grants, according to the release.

“We can use all the votes and support we can get!” said Salley, encouraging the public to vote for the FMS band program by the Nov. 1 deadline. “Anyone 18 years of age and older can vote, and they can vote every day, one time per day.”

The easiest way to vote for the local Fairhope band program is via the FMS Facebook page, which has a link that will take you straight to the school’s application without having to scroll through more than 400 contenders in the “create” category www.facebook.com/pages/Fairhope-Middle-School/115369918477316?ref=ts.

For more information, contact Salley at jsalley@bcbe.org.