Students of the Opelousas Senior High School marching band have been working diligently to raise money to fund their trip to Washington D.C.

The band has been invited to perform in the historic city in the national Memorial Day parade, but there is one problem, l’argent (money). Organizers of the Acadiana Coup de Main, which is French for a helping hand, have a solution.

Dustin Cravins with the organization says, “We’re donating our time, our talent and our treasure to these young people and we’re going to donate 100% of the proceeds of the annual Coup de Main to Opelousas Senior High marching band.”

The Coup de Main features artists from all across Louisiana. A couple of them tagged along with Cravins to the high school and delivered the good news to band members.

Chris Ardoin, who is one of them, says, “This is a great moment for me just to be able to get back to kids and let them do something they may not be able to do for the rest of their lives.”

Keith Frank, another local artist has tagged along as well saying, “I am blessed to be able to be here and be able to take part in this and help these kids get to Washington D.C.”

The concert will be at the Yambilee building in Opelousas on Thursday, April 23. Presale tickets are $10 and the fun starts at 5:30 pm.