The Sundre High School Band Fundraising Dinner Concert was hailed a success by an organizer, who said the function helps to raise funds for trips. "The concert went very well," band teacher Tracy Wilson said.
The Sundre High School Band Fundraising Dinner Concert was hailed a success by an organizer, who said the function helps to raise funds for trips.
"The concert went very well," band teacher Tracy Wilson said.
"We had a huge turnout and were able to raise a lot of money for the students' tour accounts."
Band members donated about 50 items for a silent auction, which raised a little more than $5,600 on Friday, Feb. 17 at the school's gymnasium.
"The amount raised for each item directly benefits the student who brought the item. They receive 100 per cent of the proceeds from the sale of the item. This money goes into their individual band account and is used to help pay for their band trips."
Among the band class's upcoming tours are a trip to the Okanagan Concert Band Festival March 7-10, as well as the Disney Magic Music Tour in the spring of 2018, she said.
"The funds raised help cover the cost of the trips that the band goes on," said Wilson.
"This means students can use this money to help pay for their trip rather than having the trip paid for completely out of pocket by the student or their parents. We try to provide opportunities for students to fundraise so we don't exclude those students who can't afford to go on the trips."
The band teacher said the raised funds cover travel costs such as transportation, accommodations, some food, and activities such as participation in a festival or entrance to a park, as in the case of the Disney trip, she said.
Participation in the band program has expanded substantially in recent years, she said.
"The school band program has grown immensely in the past four years — four years ago we had 37 students in the Sundre High School Band. This year, we have 79 students in the band," the teacher said, adding that figure represents almost one third of the whole school's student population.
Anyone who is interested in getting involved is always welcome to do so, she said.
"We are always looking for supporters of our program either through volunteering with different events or fundraising efforts as well as sponsorship."
Additionally, the door always remains open for the public to attend concerts, she said.
Upcoming performances include a spring concert at the end of May as well as an appearance in the Sundre Rodeo Parade in June.
