Every three years, students involved in music have the opportunity to venture to New York City for a week of Broadway shows and fun activities. Fifty-four students leave on June 7, and fundraising is coming to a close. Music kids and parents volunteered to organize numerous events, limiting the hefty cost.
Music teacher Jackie Hawkins-Keck said fundraiser Music Bingo raised $1,200 with little cost to host. On Feb. 27, the Trivial Dudes volunteered their time to the Music Department, keeping expenses low. Hosted at the high school, they played snippets of songs while participants matched song titles on their cards to make a bingo.
A popcorn bar and surprise karaoke performance added an element of fun to the event. Hawkins-Keck used karaoke as an incentive to donate.
“If you didn’t want your name in the karaoke singing possibility, you had to pay a dollar to get your name taken out of the drawing,” Hawkins-Keck said. “And then we also had jars that went around for different kids and adults who were willing to sing to raise money, so whoever had the most money in their jars got to sing.”
Hawkins-Keck and music student Kaden Robbins sang a duet of Frozen’s “Let It Go” at the end of the event.
“It was weird at first to sing with my choir teacher, but then it was super fun,” Robbins said. “‘Let It Go’ used to be my favorite song.”
Hawkins’ favorite fundraiser was the dress sale. Started a few years ago, people in the community brought in their second-hand dresses to sell at the Stone Church in Manchester. A percentage of the sales goes back to the music program. Racks of dresses in all sizes and styles were open for anyone to come in and shop.
“It’s not just a fundraiser for us; it helps other people who can’t afford to have the real fancy dresses or the name brands get these same dresses that have been worn once,” Hawkins-Keck said.
Hawkins-Keck feels these events are not just about raising money but also about bringing the community together. No one wants money to be what stands in the way of students partaking in this trip, she said. The total cost for individuals is just over $1,400. An estimated total of $25,000 has been raised.
“A lot of our kids wouldn’t be able to go to the New York City trip without the fundraising to make this a more affordable trip. That we’re able to give it to them is great,” Hawkins-Keck said.
