By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — The sound of Christmas carols floated through the Walmart parking lot Saturday afternoon as Cassidy Nooner and her friends struck up the band for the Salvation Army.
Rather than ringing the bell, Cassidy and seven other West Rowan High School band members — plus Cassidy’s little sister Camryn — performed a one-hour concert to encourage shoppers to give to the charity.
“People sometimes ignore the kettle more than they should,” said Cindy Nooner, Cassidy’s mom who listened proudly with a group of parents.
It was hard to ignore the band, complete with Santa hats, and many people made contributions during the performance of holiday favorites like “Jingle Bells” and “Away in a Manger.”
The band included Cassidy, who directed and played the trumpet, and Grace Morris and Jessica Ho on clarinet, Josh Doyle and Brendon Palmer on saxophone, Alex Day on tuba, Savannah Morgan and Baylee Errante on flute, and sixth-grader Camryn on saxophone.
Friend Parker Williams stood by the kettle to accept donations and wish everyone a merry Christmas.
Camryn attends Southeast Middle, where band director Devin DeBord inspired Cassidy’s idea. When she was DeBord’s student, he told the band about playing his trombone at the Salvation Army kettle.
“She’s been wanting to do it ever since she heard that,” Cindy Nooner said.
Rather than a solo act, Cassidy asked several friends to participate. They gladly joined the effort.
“There was no twisting any of these kids’ arms,” Cassidy’s father Tim Nooner said. “They just like to help out.”
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.