Archive: Around Town

The DeWitt Middle School Orchestra was selected, by audition, to perform at the Heritage National Orchestra Competition and Festival in Boston, MA, April 27-28, 2013.  DeWitt Middle School seventh and eighth grade orchestra students will participate in master classes with professional musicians and perform in a concert with other selected schools.

DeWitt Orchestra Director Aaron Buck states, “Going to festivals and competitions is a great way for these seventh and eighth grade students to see what other orchestras are doing and helps them as a team to achieve something great. It gives our students a goal to shoot for.”

Fundraising was necessary to make this trip possible and the community rallied to support every student’s participation.  The orchestra students and their families undertook fundraisers, a publicity campaign, and set up an online giving option via PeaksOverPoverty.  “The students and I have devoted a great deal of time, energy, and passion for this trip”, noted Mr. Buck.  “We are so grateful for the community support”.

Community donors stepped forward to help support music education. 
Trip Scholarships were supported by grants and sponsorships from the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI), the Carol J. Buckley Scholarship for Students in the Arts, the Josh Endo Memorial for Continuing Support of Music Education, and two anonymous donors, with administrative assistance from the Fine Arts Booster Group.

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