Musical Madness Plan B: The band plays on…
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Band and choir students contributed to a fundraising marathon Saturday, featuring five hours of non-stop music, with $13,000 in donations pouring in by mid-afternoon – well on the way to meeting the students’ $14,000 goal.
Quick change artists: the 9th Annual BANDATHON Fundraiser
November 5, 2018 – Students and teachers had no problem quickly changing venues after liability insurance deadline challenges nixed an expected appearance for the 9th annual Bandathon fundraising event at Royal City Centre this past weekend.
New Westminster Secondary School music students kicked off the 2018-2019 school year with their five-hour marathon of music at the high school instead, with food and pizza delivered to help sustain them through the challenge.
And despite the rapid change of plan, the New Westminster Secondary School music program’s fundraising goal of $14,000 was well on the way to success by mid-afternoon, with $13,000 raised by 3 p.m.
Donations from parents, friends and the community help support student field trips, instrument purchases, and workshops. This year, a highlight will be the senior choir and bands’ participation in the Rocky Mountain Music Festival in Banff – which showcases the work of students from across Western Canada.
Participants are invited to the festival based on recordings of their music as well as their statements of philosophy.
Collaboration, self-expression – and a strong sense of community…
As Performing Arts Department head Kelly Proznick explained, the music program’s philosophy at NWSS is based on an exploration of music as fundamental to collaboration, artistic self-expression and a powerful sense of community among more than 300 NWSS students in performance-based courses – and another 250-300 in courses such as Guitar and Music Composition and Technology.
Proznick noted the the marathon of music madness is a wonderful opportunity for students to try their hand at new music, rehearse together, and mentor each other by introducing the school’s new crop of grade 9 students to grade 10-12 musicians.
Last year, the musical marathon lasted 12 hours. This year, the hope was to rehearse in public and share the fun of musicians making music.
“We’ll definitely try again for next year,” said Proznick.
The Bandathon/Choir-a-thon event took place at NWSS Nov. 3 after a quick change of venue from Royal City Centre Saturday. To help students reach their fundraising goal, visit: www.nwssmusic.com
