POETRY and MUSIC students "Out Loud" and Victorious

Yesterday was a great day for the music department and its students!

First thing Wednesday morning the BHS Chorus, Select Chorus, Concert Band and Jazz Band journeyed to the Marshall Simonds Middle School to perform for the students, an annual trip that introduces the middle school music students to the high school music experience. The BHS student musicians missed first through third periods but performed brilliantly for the younger students.

At the same time there was a scurry of activity as several BHS music students were also semi-finalists in the Poetry Out Loud competition and had to compete in Fogelberg Auditorium for a place in the finals. After a bit of schedule shifting (and most likely jumping through hoops to get the job done) the music students were victorious and five will move on to finals! Of the seven first place winners, the following five were chosen from the ranks of the music department: Futaba Shioda, David Murray, Katie Pustizzi, Eric Leva and Kevin Parker, with wild card representative Chelsea Rose.

Congratulations to all the students for a job well done!

GOT TICKETS? TITANIC TICKETS ON SALE, BEST SEATS NOW

Believe it or not, Titanic, The Musical will open in just over six weeks. Rehearsals are in full swing, costumes are being sewn, sets constructed, signs printed.

Have you purchased your tickets yet?

Tickets for Titanic, The Musical go on sale TODAY, February 1. As in previous years, the seats are reserved (aka "numbered") so the earlier you purchase, the better. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens.

Don't hesitate. Tickets for Titanic, The Musical are available for purchase on the new ticket website, www.burlingtontickets.org, or by phone at 781-A-FUN-TIC.

FUNDRAISING NUMBERS ARE ASTOUNDING

Astounding might be the only word to describe the unprecedented success of the Burlington High School Music Boosters Association whose fundraising efforts during the first half of the school year have realized a net profit of over $21,000!

The Burlington High School Music Boosters Association’s annual fundraising efforts not only benefit the music students and staff at BHS during the school year but also provide the necessary funds to maintain the Marching Band Scholarship program. Mandated by its by-laws, the Music Boosters Association presents scholarship awards to all senior members of the Marching Band who have committed to continuing his/her education upon graduation, an amount that varies each year ranging from $5,000-$7000. In addition to this commitment, the Boosters organization funds transportation for the BHS Chorus to compete in the annual Great East Festival in Agawam, Massachusetts, has provided monies to expand the collection of formal chorus concert attire as needed and has committed to chorus scholarships based on merit for seniors continuing in a college music program.

With each year’s scholarship fund commitment at approximately $4,500 and the wish-list of items from the BHS music staff in the $2000-$3,000 range, the Boosters organization has implemented some proven fundraisers to meet the numbers. They include the Friends of the Music Boosters annual fundraising appeal (Vanessa Ovian, Coordinator), Rayburn Music Rental Night in September (Donna Gregorio, Coordinator), the Woburn Halloween Parade held in October (Michelle Campbell, Coordinator), ongoing concession sales held throughout the year during performing arts events (Shirley Fong, Coordinator), merchandise sales which includes performing group photographs (Vicki Kikuchi, Coordinator) and the Marching Band and Music Awards banquets in the fall and spring (Donna Gregorio and Shirley Fong, Coordinators) made possible through a very generous donation by the 99 Restaurant of Billerica, Massachusetts.

Driving the overwhelming donor response this year is the BHS Marching Band’s trip in April to DisneyWorld, where Burlington’s favorite sons and daughters (led by director Matt Lovell along with co-Director Amanda Potts and advisors Jen Agati and Leanne Reardon) will find themselves marching down Main Street of The Magic Kingdom on April 21. With the cost per student of this self-funded spring break activity approaching $1,000, the Executive Board of the Music Boosters and Disney Committee Chair Steven Parker set out to create opportunities for each student to raise funds for his/her individual account.


With marketing plan in hand, Boosters president Donna Gregorio, Fundraising Coordinator Shirley Fong and Boosters treasurer Susie Frost inspired a tireless team of parent volunteers and students to reach their goal. Through their hard work and determination in sponsoring a series of events, over $12,200 was placed in student accounts and another $4,500 in the general Disney fund for transport of instruments, uniforms and other necessities for the Marching Band performance. Disney fundraisers included the Burlington Historical Society’s Fall Fair in September (Shirley Fong, Coordinator), Woburn Halloween Parade/Marching Band Walk-a-Thon held in October (Michelle Campbell, Coordinator), ticket sales to The Lion King in connection with Broadway Across America and its EventUsher service held in October (Tim Rose, Coordinator), the Gala Benefit Concert and Silent Auction held in November (coordinated by Donna Gregorio, Shirley Fong and Vanessa Ovian), the Calendar Raffle, with tickets sold in November and winners announced throughout December (Carol Sheldon, Coordinator with Phyllis Fleischmann assisting) and Youth Movie Night held in January of 2010(Lori Kashgegian, Coordinator).

The Burlington High School Music Boosters Association wishes to thank each and every individual who has contributed to their overwhelming fundraising success this year, from the parents who sit at the table selling anything from tickets to balloons to those who bake for our events and march alongside the students making sure they are safe and hydrated! Far too many in numbers to name, we recognize the value they have added to the organization and applaud them for being a part of this historic year.

A TWO-FER: Youth Movie & Dine Out a HUGE success

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Photos show check-in table, concessions at intermission, auditorium of movie-goers and Marching Band volunteers.

The BHS Music Boosters Association’s Youth Movie Night was a complete success this past Friday night … just ask the nearly 150, 5-13 year-olds who came for a night out with friends to see the Disney-Pixar movie “UP” on the big screen at Burlington High School!

Designed as a fundraiser for the Marching Band trip to DisneyWorld in April, Youth Movie Night was also a wonderful evening for parents who had the opportunity to drop their children off for three hours of completely supervised activities. Students from the Marching Band and parent chaperones from the Boosters were on hand every step of the way and those who participated were credited a part of the revenue towards their trip.

The evening activities included some rousing rounds of BINGO with cries for more when time ran out. The children also had an opportunity to purchase snacks and drinks at the concession table, a favorite stop during intermission, nearly devouring the entire stock of popcorn, juice & water and other yummy treats! All concession revenue was applied to the general Disney account.

Held in tandem with Youth Movie Night was the Music Boosters’ UNO Dine Out event where 20% of all sales at the Burlington restaurant with the special coupon would benefit the general fund. Coupons were available at the check-in at the high school for parents dropping off their children who might wish to dine out.

Parents, teen chaperones and children involved in the Youth Movie Night event were thrilled.” The movie choice was perfect,” commented one parent. “It held the interest of the children and teens.” Several wished this could happen every month! And one parent even suggested that the Boosters "Start earlier for this event, so parents could have a longer time out!"

TITANIC SALES BEGIN SOON

Mr. Middleton-Cox rehearsing TITANIC with cast members this week.

Just a quick reminder that tickets for TITANIC, The Musical will go on sale February 1. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. The recommended method of purchase is through the new ticket website, www.BurlingtonTickets.org. For information or to order tickets by phone please call 781-A-FUN-TIC beginning February 1.

ELECTION DAY AFFECTS MUSIC BOOSTERS RETAIL SALES

Ryan Knox and mom, Mary, take a shift at the Boosters table on Election Day.

Shirley Fong "making a sale" of merchandise at the Boosters table outside Burlington's Senatorial Election.

This past Tuesday (Election Day in Massachusetts) was quite exciting at Burlington High School. The number of voters that turned out to cast their votes for our new state senator (9,352 according to Boston Globe numbers or 58% of registered voters) was impressive. Thanks to Vicki Kikuchi, the Music Boosters received special permission to set up a table in the foyer of the election site with both merchandise and handouts for tomorrow’s Youth Movie Night/UNO Dine Out Night events. Thanks to the volunteer parents who manned the table, we are pleased to say that the merchandise sales brought in close to $400 for the Booster’s General Fund!

Uno Chicago Grill: Only Way to Raise Dough!

The Burlington High School Music Boosters Association will be hosting a Dine Out event on Friday, January 22, 2010, at UNO Chicago Grill located in the Burlington Mall. Good on dine in and take out orders, Uno’s will donate 20% of all receipts (excluding tax and tip) to the Music Boosters during the all-day, all-night fundraiser.

The Uno Dine Out event coincides with the Music Boosters’ Youth Movie Night, an evening of fun for children ages 5-13 at Burlington High School where the youngsters can spend the evening with friends and watch the Disney-Pixar film “UP” on the big screen. Parents can drop their children off at Burlington High School under complete student and adult chaperone supervision at 6:00 pm and head to the mall for dinner at UNO’s and shopping, or simply take their order home to their own peaceful sactuary! (Pick-up time from BHS is at 9:00 pm.) No matter how you look at it, the Music Boosters agree it's the "only way to raise dough!"

To participate in the BHS Music Boosters Association Uno’s Dine Out event, you must present the UNO’s coupon designed specifically for the January 22 event. Coupons for the UNO Chicago Grill Dine Out event and registration forms for the Youth Movie can be obtained by contacting the Music Boosters organization at bhsmusicboostersassn@gmail.com or the music office at 781-860-1860. They will also be available at the check-in desk during Youth Movie Night.

No matter how you look at it, the Music Boosters agree it's the "only way to raise dough!"