American Fork band just fails to make final cut

AMERICAN FORK — Just over a month after a bus crash killed one of its instructors, the American Fork High School Band performed at the national championships in Indianapolis but fell just short of making the finals.

The band placed 14th on Saturday and didn't make the cut for the final 12.

On Oct. 10 a crash on an Idaho highway toppled the bus full of student band members and took the life of woodwinds instructor Heather Christensen.

After a last-minute invitation to the national championships, the school raised more than $250,000 in two days, enough to send 250 students and staff to the competition.

Director of Bands John Miller said after Saturday's competition that the students were in good spirits and proud of what they'd accomplished.