Five students from Bellevue’s Interlake High School who last year produced the first Eastside Battle of the Bands for ArtsEd WA brought it back for a second run this year, raising $10,000 over two years and demonstrating the value that students place on arts education programs.

In early 2010, students discovered that their school arts programs had been slated for significant cuts. As many students jumped into action and began speaking out, a team of five students decided to take their efforts a step further.

In conjunction with Interlake’s International Baccalaureate Program, which encourages students to

collaborate and create community, action, and service projects, the team’s idea quickly grew into the Eastside Battle of the Bands with all proceeds going to benefit ArtsEd WA, the statewide advocacy non-profit that works to advance arts education for all students in Washington state.

This year’s competition featured five bands from across the Eastside who competed for a $300 cash

prize and the rights to the title of “Best Band on the Eastside.” Nearly 300 youth and adults attended the event to support the bands, the students and arts education. This year’s winner was Caboose from Bellevue, followed by runner-up, Stuck on a Bus.

Each member of the high school team, which included Andrew Nelson, Carew Giberson-Chen, Andrew Nguyen, Aaron Roper, and Rohan Waghani, has been involved in the Bellevue School District’s music programs since elementary school.

Una McAlinden, executive director of ArtsEd Washington, who worked closely with the student team throughout the process notes, “There is a reason that the arts are part of basic education and required by law to be provided to all students. They nurture critical thinking and complex

problem solving skills, as well as providing a foundation for creativity and innovation.”

The team also credits Microsoft’s generous support for a good portion of the event’s momentum and

success. In addition to a featured sponsorship, Microsoft donated two Xbox 360 with Kinect bundles that were given away at the event.

The team also acknowledged the event’s community supporters, including Donn Bennett Drum Studio, Bellevue American Music, the Varsity Student Institute, Moore Brothers Music, Bellevue School of Music, Da Capo Photography, and the Bellevue Reporter.

In an effort to make the project sustainable after its current leaders graduate next year, a group of

underclassmen led by Interlake sophomores Kimberly Dinehart and Maddy Lisaius worked closely with the current team and is poised to take over in 2012, bringing a fresh perspective and new ideas to the already successful project.