SAN DIEGO — A Ventura high school band visiting San Diego to perform last weekend woke up to find their van had been broken into, and many of their instruments were gone.
The Newbury Park Adventist Concert Band most recently performed at the Tierrasanta 7th Day Adventist Church, said Joel Albritton, Principal of the Newbury Park Adventist Academy, grades 9 through 12.
The band and choir went back to their hotel in Chula Vista at La Quinta to spend the night. The van was locked and appeared to be safe.
"I was there the morning our music director called us together for an emergency meeting telling us that many of our instruments were stolen in the night," Albritton said.
And the dollar amount of those instruments is significant.
"So far we're able to determine the value of the instruments stolen is in the neighborhood of $20,000 to $25,000," he said.
Many of the instruments were personal.
"Students were renting instruments. These were their personal instruments and the school's instruments," Albritton said.
Albritton said they did file a report with Chula Vista Police.
"They told us we had to make single reports for the instruments," Albritton said.
In the meantime, the band and choir have two more concerts to perform, and their community has rallied.
"Many families have come forward; one family has seven or eight flutes. Within the next week or so, I think we'll find out if we can replenish our supply," Albritton said.
The band and choir have two shows left in the season.
"And so the show must go on, and it should, because these students and families have worked so hard. We're going to do our best to make sure the Spring concert can continue," Albritton said.
If you hear of any band equipment trying to be sold or you see it on the internet, contact the Chula Vista Police Department.
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