ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Sarah Darelle Anderson, 19, by all accounts was a talented musician. She was assistant drum major her junior year at Robertsdale High and was drum major her senior year. In 2007, she was elected homecoming queen. She was a member of the National Honor Society and received numerous awards at RHS.

She went to Auburn University and was a member of the Auburn University Marching Band, playing the piccolo. She was also a member of the Symphonic and Concert bands. Her family says she hoped to become a veterinarian.

All that was cut short last November when Anderson lost her life in a traffic accident.

“The family asked me to be a pallbearer,” said Rick Good, Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Conducting at Auburn.

Anderson’s death was a shock to the entire music community at Auburn. The Symphonic Band was scheduled to perform with the Opelika High School Band at the time of Anderson’s funeral.

That concert was postponed to Monday, Jan. 25 at Opelika High.

“We just didn’t have the heart for it,” said Good. He added that “three busloads” of Anderson’s band mates went to the funeral in Loxley and spontaneously performed a song based on the Auburn alma mater during her funeral.

The concert is open to the public and is free of charge, but donations are encouraged and will be used to start a memorial scholarship in Anderson’s name.

“The scholarship will be though Kappa Kappa Psi,” said Good, explaining that the group is a national honorary band service fraternity for college band members. Called KKPsi for short, the fraternity sponsors a number of service projects.

Anderson will be remembered at the concert.

“We will be performing “Amazing Grace,” said Good, adding that the flute section leader, Elizabeth Haynes, performed that song at Anderson’s funeral, with a piano accompaniment.

“It will be a band arrangement this time,” said Good.

“The (Auburn) Band will also be performing ‘Into the Summit,’ which was written for the southeast district of KKPsi,” Good said.

Auburn flute professor Karen Garrison will perform Gary Shocker’s “Regrets and Resolutions.”

“She was a special student,” said Good, adding that Anderson had been planning to begin advancing to drum major in the Auburn band.

“We will always remember her,” said Good.

Those who cannot come to the concert, but still wish to donate can send a check or money order to: Kappa Kappa Psi c/o Sarah Anderson Memorial Scholarship, 132 Goodwin Music Building, Auburn University, AL 36849-5421.