Three-part harmony: For the Brennans, marching band's China trip is a family project

Londonderry

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February 27, 2008

By Suzanne Laurent

LONDONDERRY — It would be a struggle for most families to raise the money to send one person on the Lancers Marching Band's trip to Beijing this summer. Now imagine trying to pay for five.

That's what the Brennan family is doing.

Deb and Mark Brennan have triplet boys, Adam, Josh and Wes. All are in the band that has been invited to perform at 2008 Beijing Olympic Cultural Youth Festival in June. Adam plays cymbals, Josh the xylophone, and Wes plays trumpet.

"Mark and I want to go, too," Deb Brennan said. "We decided couldn't live with ourselves if we didn't see the boys play with the band on the Great Wall."

This is just one of four scheduled performances. Another is a parade on June 21.

The cost for the trip is close to $3,000 per person, meaning the Brennans will have to raise $15,000.

The boys' New Hampshire grandparents, Janet and Milton Brennan of Londonderry, are paying for one, Deb Brennan said. An aunt, Meredith Dance, also of Londonderry, is paying for another.

That leaves Mark and Deb to come up with the cost for themselves and one more boy.

"We've scrimped on some things to be able to do this (trip)," Brennan said, "like not going skiing much this winter and other things."

While there are multiple fundraising efforts going on to raise money for the band's trip, all payments from members and their families are due by April 1.

The Brennan family hasn't traveled much except to Niagara Falls and Pennsylvania; this will be their first trip abroad.

Adam is looking forward to sampling Chinese cuisine and has been practicing with chopsticks. Wes can't wait to eat "authentic rice." And Josh said he is interested in learning a little bit about communism.

Deb Brennan said she and her husband are not going as chaperons, but as "followers," so they'll be free to sightsee while the band is practicing. She is an assistant teacher at South Londonderry Elementary School and the coordinator of the Apprentice Gardener program at the school. Mark Brennan is an engineer with BAE Systems.

The triplets, who are freshmen at Londonderry High School, turned 15 on Monday. In addition to playing in the marching band, they play lacrosse. Adam plays football. They have their own band, called Revelations, and enjoy playing paintball.

Passports are in order and the family is looking forward to the trip, which runs from June 19 to 27.

"We'll be debriefed on Chinese customs and culture," Deb Brennan said. "Like, we can't wear open-toed shoes."

Want to help the band?

What: Gala Auction and Dinner

When: Friday, March 7, beginning at 6 p.m.

Where: Atkinson Country Club

Cost: $150 per couple

More: Silent and live auction; visit www. lancermusic.org for a list of auction items

Call Jim Fainer at 505-4285 for more information

Other fundraisers

Shaw's Receipts — Community members can save their Shaw's receipts and turn them in to either the collection box at the exit of the Londonderry Shaw's or give them to any band member. One percent of all receipts will be rewarded back to Lancer Music.

Change for China — Collection containers have been set up around town at many retail stores.