Jazz Choir raising funds for performance trip

The Sisters High School jazz choir plans to be singing at Disneyland again this spring — and a local quilter has offered up a quilt for raffle as part of the fundraising effort.

According to choir director Rick Johnson, the jazz choir is traveling to Disneyland next March 12-16. While at Disneyland the students will get a rare backstage glimpse of the park, they will take classes from Disney cast members that deal with how music is used in the park, and they will perform a concert in the 1,800-seat Fantasyland Theater.

“The opportunity for these kids to learn coupled with getting to perform in a venue like this can be life-changing,” said Johnson.

A few years ago Susan Cobb decided to offer one of her quilt creations to a school organization that could benefit from a fundraiser and became connected to choir director Rick Johnson. In the ensuing years, Cobb has continued her support of the jazz choir.

Cobb said, “A few years ago I was caring for my father, who loved jazz music, and at the same time wanted to help out a program by donating a quilt, so my contributions of quilts is a way to support the arts, which I feel is very important, and a way of honoring my father.”

Johnson and his students absolutely appreciate Cobb’s generosity and support. “Susan is an amazing quilter and I hope she knows just how much it means to all of us for her to create and donate her beautiful work year after year,” said Johnson.

Raffle tickets are available for sale throughout most of the school year with the drawing to be held at the choir’s annual “Pop Show” set for May 27.

Tickets are $1 apiece or 6 for $5 and are available at all middle and high school choir performances, the next of which is the musical “Freaky Friday” which runs November 14-17 at the high school auditorium. Performances will be at 7 p.m. November 14-16 with a matinee showing at 2 p.m. on November 17.

In addition, the fall concert is scheduled for November 19, also at the high school. The quilt will be on display at each performance.

As another thrust of the fundraising efforts, members of the jazz choir will be bagging groceries at Ray’s this Saturday, October 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in order to raise awareness of the program and to accept tips/donations in support of their trip. The quilt will be on display and raffle tickets will be on sale.

“All proceeds to the quilt raffle and the grocery bagging go directly to paying for the Jazz Choir students’ performing trip to Disneyland,” said Johnson.

The third prong of the fundraising campaign is the sale of holiday wreaths and centerpieces, which is being managed by Sherri Kissinger, a parent of one of the jazz choir members. Autumn and winter wreaths, as well as centerpieces, can be ordered with free delivery from the website http://www.lcffundraising.com/c/206746. Tax-deductible donations can also be made through the website, according to Johnson.

“It costs about $1,100 per student to make the trip, and these three efforts give our students an opportunity to cover most, if not all, of the costs,” said Johnson.