News release from Fort Wayne Community Schools:
Memorial Park choirs raising money for Carnegie Hall trip
(November 17, 2011) – Two choirs from Memorial Park Middle School will perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City in March after earning gold ratings at the Heritage Festival in Washington D.C. last May where they competed against high school choirs.
Since receiving the invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall, the students involved in 78 Edition and MP Jazz have been busy raising money to pay for the trip. In order to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience, the students, parents and staff must raise $60,000 to pay for entrance fees, transportation, lodging, food, outfits for the show choir season as well as educational sightseeing, including a Broadway show. The group is more than half-way to their goal, but they still need to raise more than $15,000.
“I am proud of our students for achieving this honor and having the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall,” said Jana Root, director of the choirs. “This experience will be one that the students will remember their entire life. We hope the community can help our students raise the funds needs to make this trip.”
Parents and students have given personally, asked family and friends, washed cars, and sold Chick-fil-A sandwiches, Otis Spunkmeyer cookies and discount cards. Each month, students, staff and parents pack area restaurants, who will give them a percentage of sales. Local foundations have also been approached to offer assistance, but most foundations are unable to assist the choirs because they are from a public school. Over the next few weeks, the choirs are singing at various corporation Christmas dinners and community events to raise awareness and funds for this opportunity for the students to represent Fort Wayne.
Events next week include:
- Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A at Jefferson Pointe from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Students will help serve meals and sing with a percentage of the sales going toward the Carnegie Hall trip.
- Singing downtown Wednesday, Nov. 23, during the annual Night of Lights. Students will be singing outside the Wells Fargo Bank building from 5:30-6 p.m.; inside the Grand Wayne Convention Center from 6:30-7 p.m.; and then outside the Hilton where hot chocolate will be passed out at 7:20 p.m.
Donations will be accepted at all three locations.
Anyone interested in contributing can send a tax-deductible donation to Memorial Park Middle School, 2200 Maumee Ave, Fort Wayne, IN 46803. The remaining funds are needed by Dec. 31 to ensure the group can go.
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