Updated: Brother, Can You Spare 95 Grand?
September 10th 2006
by Kelly Dean
They opened the envelope with a feeling of excitement mixed with a sense of impending doom.
The return address said "American Choral Directors' Association," and inside was an invitation for the Parker Elementary Advanced Chorus to perform at the ACDA Convention in March 2007.
In Miami.
Piece of cake, right? Just notify the parents, everybody writes a big check, and we move on. (Full disclosure: Chandler Dean is a proud member of PEAC)
Ummm, that's not gonna work. Parker Elementary is a Title I school, which means that 47% of the kids come from low-income families. Sure, some of the parents could handle a four-digit commitment, but not everybody. And we don't roll without everyone on board. Plus, we're gonna need an army of chaperones to keep these 4th & 5th graders safe and on schedule for a week. Don't tell me these volunteers are gonna have to pay their own way too?
Nope, we need to do some serious fundraising. To the tune of almost $100,000. That's a lot of bake sales, car washes, & thin mint cookies.
The American Choral Directors' Association has invited exactly two elementary schools to its convention in its fifty year history. This year, Parker is one of 51 choirs asked to perform at the ACDA gathering.
Several years ago, Parker was invited to perform by the ACDA, but was unable to attend due to the enormous funding needed. This time, the kids, parents, faculty and staff at Parker have made a commitment to make it to Miami.
So, I picked up the phone, and asked the local music community if they could lend a hand. As always, the answer was a resounding "Tell me when to be there!"
Parker has also received generous donations from IW Marks Jewelers, Fiesta Mart grocery stores, Pizza Hut, & The Olive Garden, with several other stores and restaurants working on donations to the cause.
The University of Houston Choir has also been invited to this convention. UH is picking up the tab for their students. The choir director there has vowed to help in any way to get Parker funded. The UH kids have volunteered to work at Houston Texans games, with the proceeds going to the Parker Advanced Chorus. Pretty cool!
Now we need the public's help!
On Monday, September 18th, Parker Concert Café opened for business. Approximately 150 folks came out to the debut performance, and we raised $1559 after expenses. 10 bucks for dinner & a show. 5 bucks for the kids. 6-8pm (Dinner at 6, music at 7).
09/18 marked the debut of the Dana Rogers Big Band, featuring the arrangements of the late great Bill Rogers. If you get a chance to experience this band again, you must. The sound of 17 musicians swinging is a thing of beauty. Add in Dana's superb vocals and her daddy's beautiful charts, and it's heavenly.
09/25: The Kelly Dean Group. I know this guy personally, and I can tell you from experience that he is warm, sincere, jovial, talented, honest, hard-working, very talented, gregarious, enormously talented....and humble. Joining me....err, him...will be his long-time companions, Gilber Sedeño, Vernon Daniels, Felix Luna, maybe even John Calderon.
My thanks to all the great musicians who have offered to make this thing happen. Now, let's pack the joint out!
Want to know more about Parker Elementary?
Map
Parker Website
10 Minute Video of the Advanced Chorus (Warning: 46MB Download)
Powerpoint Presentation
PDF Version Make a tax-deductible donation today. Any amount will be sincerely appreciated. Please make checks payable to Parker PTO, with Chorus Fundraiser notated in the memo field. Mail checks to:
Parker Elementary
Attn: Marianna Simpson
10626 Atwell
Houston, TX 77096
Or make an online donation:
Ummm, that's not gonna work. Parker Elementary is a Title I school, which means that 47% of the kids come from low-income families. Sure, some of the parents could handle a four-digit commitment, but not everybody. And we don't roll without everyone on board. Plus, we're gonna need an army of chaperones to keep these 4th & 5th graders safe and on schedule for a week. Don't tell me these volunteers are gonna have to pay their own way too?
Nope, we need to do some serious fundraising. To the tune of almost $100,000. That's a lot of bake sales, car washes, & thin mint cookies.
The American Choral Directors' Association has invited exactly two elementary schools to its convention in its fifty year history. This year, Parker is one of 51 choirs asked to perform at the ACDA gathering.
Several years ago, Parker was invited to perform by the ACDA, but was unable to attend due to the enormous funding needed. This time, the kids, parents, faculty and staff at Parker have made a commitment to make it to Miami.
So, I picked up the phone, and asked the local music community if they could lend a hand. As always, the answer was a resounding "Tell me when to be there!"
Parker has also received generous donations from IW Marks Jewelers, Fiesta Mart grocery stores, Pizza Hut, & The Olive Garden, with several other stores and restaurants working on donations to the cause.
The University of Houston Choir has also been invited to this convention. UH is picking up the tab for their students. The choir director there has vowed to help in any way to get Parker funded. The UH kids have volunteered to work at Houston Texans games, with the proceeds going to the Parker Advanced Chorus. Pretty cool!
Now we need the public's help!
On Monday, September 18th, Parker Concert Café opened for business. Approximately 150 folks came out to the debut performance, and we raised $1559 after expenses. 10 bucks for dinner & a show. 5 bucks for the kids. 6-8pm (Dinner at 6, music at 7).
09/18 marked the debut of the Dana Rogers Big Band, featuring the arrangements of the late great Bill Rogers. If you get a chance to experience this band again, you must. The sound of 17 musicians swinging is a thing of beauty. Add in Dana's superb vocals and her daddy's beautiful charts, and it's heavenly.
09/25: The Kelly Dean Group. I know this guy personally, and I can tell you from experience that he is warm, sincere, jovial, talented, honest, hard-working, very talented, gregarious, enormously talented....and humble. Joining me....err, him...will be his long-time companions, Gilber Sedeño, Vernon Daniels, Felix Luna, maybe even John Calderon.
My thanks to all the great musicians who have offered to make this thing happen. Now, let's pack the joint out!
Want to know more about Parker Elementary?Map
Parker Website
10 Minute Video of the Advanced Chorus (Warning: 46MB Download)
Powerpoint Presentation
PDF Version Make a tax-deductible donation today. Any amount will be sincerely appreciated. Please make checks payable to Parker PTO, with Chorus Fundraiser notated in the memo field. Mail checks to:
Parker Elementary
Attn: Marianna Simpson
10626 Atwell
Houston, TX 77096
Or make an online donation:
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