Indian River Band Boosters: Year wrapping up with a bang

It’s time again to bring you up to date on the news and events for the Indian River High School Music Department. We have had a very busy month, and it will continue at this pace through the end of our school year.

The Sussex County Honors Band concert on March 1 was so enjoyable. It was great to bring together the “best” of Sussex County, and to know IR was represented by 34 members was a high honor. With the talent we have now and upcoming students from Southern Delaware School of the Arts and Selbyville Middle School, we feel we can continue this high percentage for many years to come by keeping our music department active and “enticing” to those upcoming freshmen.

Speaking of our talent, we hope you were able to attend the IR Variety Show on March 16 and 17. We have such a variety of talent in our school, and one of the hardest parts of the show for Mark Marvel seems to be having to say no and cut off the list of interested students. The show had 40 acts and was more than three hours long. You definitely get your money’s worth at these performances. We hope to get more community members to attend and see for themselves.

A Tour de Har fundraiser was held at the Cottage Cafe on March 21. The Boosters were glad to help promote this fundraiser, as it was in memory of Harry Walls, the father of one of our band members, Phoebe Walls. The benefit raises money towards the goal of finding a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. We hope it was a big success and glad to promote a good cause.

Select Indian River choral students – mostly from the show choir that will be competing in Boston – will be performing on Saturday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Georgetown Cheer Center Auditorium. This is a benefit concert titled “Music for a Positive Difference, Students of today giving to students of tomorrow.”

Proceeds from the concert go to Kody’s Kids (www.KodysKids.org), which helps newborns and children at risk in Sussex County. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at the door or online, under “Events.” Indian River will be the first group performing. Other groups performing will be SDSA’s “Encore” Ensemble and Sussex Tech’s Concert Choir. The event is being hosted by Mrs. Delaware 2012, Tara Greathouse.

The Indian River students involved are: sopranos Taylor Reeves, Michaiah Hook, Bethany Walter, Jordan Langeheine, Jenna Simmons, Jamie Harding, Amanda Beam and Emily Saylor; altos Hanna Hattier, Paige Parker, Olivia Crass, Michele Justice, Rebecca Syphard, Rachel Jackson, Myriah Carmean and Qwen Bunting; tenors Trey Williams, Miranda Manelski, Brooke Zuppo, Katie Carpenter, Sara Cramer, Michaela Green and De’Ontae Bailey; and basses Austin Roadarmel, Chris Chapdelaine, Kyle Marvel and Schyler Adkins.

The next big event will be our 4th Annual Band Booster Bingo, featuring Longaberger, Vera Bradley and cash prizes. The event will be held on Friday, March 30, at the Millville Volunteer Fire Company’s fire hall. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and we encourage you to come early and enjoy your dinner before games begin at 7 p.m.

We will be having famous pit beef sandwiches by the Mills family, as well as many other food items. Silent and “Chinese” auctions, 50/50s, raffles and special bingos will be available. Tickets cost $20 advance or $25 at the door. Call me at (302) 732-3518 for tickets or additional information.

We want to take this opportunity to thank all of the businesses and supporters of our bingo. This is a huge fundraiser to benefit the music department, and our local community businesses have really stepped up to help us out. Another reason to always think before you buy – shop local! You may be helping organizations such as ours with your purchases.

If your business would like to be included in our list of sponsors/donators, please contact me immediately. Donations (for advertisement of your local business) are still being accepted, and what a great way for you to reach out to our local customers.

As we ask for support, we are also trying to help support our IR Key Club. There are many band/chorus students who are members, and the group is participating in the Pound Down Hunger Project by collecting non-perishables for food banks. They asked if we could contribute by asking attendees of the bingo to donate a canned good. Boxes will be located at the event – and, as a special incentive, we will offer one free “Chinese auction” ticket for each can donated (limited to three tickets per person). Of course, you may bring more for the cause. Remember to bring your donation with you on March 30.

The drawing for the Puerto Rico getaway will be at the bingo event. Be sure to get your tickets for the chance at the seven-day/six-night stay in an oceanfront condo, including a $250 shopping spree from Pineapple Princess Swim & Resortwear and a $200 Visa gift card. The raffle prize is valued at $1,450. We want to thank Donna Hitch, band booster and owner of Pineapple Princess Swim & Resortwear for her generous donation of this getaway.

Tickets cost $5 each or $10 for three, and are available by calling Brian Baull at (302) 321-9020.

When we “survive” the bingo, our next order of business will be our annual band trip. This year, the students and boosters have worked very hard toward their trip to Boston, leaving on April 20 and returning on April 23. The Show Choir and the Concert Band are both performing adjudicated concerts in Boston in the Peak Performance Festival.

They will also tour some of the major sights of Boston and Salem, which will include a performance by the Blue Man Group. The students are looking forward to this adventure. Their May calendar will include a bus trip to New York City to see the Broadway performance of “Wicked” on May 2.

Please save the dates for our upcoming Spring Concert on May 14 and Stage Band Concert on May 18 and 19. We want to again encourage the community support by attending our concerts. More details will be coming as the events get closer.

We will end our school year with our annual Band Banquet on May 24, with many honors and accomplishments being recognized and many tears flowing from our seniors (and parents, such as myself) as they move on. Most of our seniors are in the college application/acceptance process now. We know that the music program at IR has touched their lives in a positive way that will help them in this next step of their lives. IR pride!