Leaders from Snoqualmie Valley Kiwanis Club, Snoqualmie Valley Rotary and Boxley’s Music Fund are combining efforts and sponsoring a joint fundraiser designed with one goal in mind – getting the Mount Si High School Jazz Band to the prestigious Essentially Ellington Competition in New York City this May.
In February, Jazz at Lincoln Center announced Mount Si Jazz 1 as one of the 15 finalist for this year’s Essentially Ellington high school band competition, which focuses on the music of Duke Ellington. According to the Seattle Times, the competition is considered to be the “Cadillac of student band competitions.”
As if making the top 15 wasn’t tough enough, now the Mount Si Music Boosters are also working non-stop, fundraising to get those hardworking student Mount Si musicians to New York for the actual competition. It’s estimated the trip will cost over $30,000 and boosters hope to raise $20,000 to put toward expenses.
On April 2, 2014, at 6PM, the Kiwanis Club, Rotary and Boxley’s Music Fund will sponsor Little Town Blues, a community dinner and evening of great jazz music at Boxley’s in North Bend.
Tickets are $50 per person. Dinner is being donated by Boxley’s Music Fund and the jazz is courtesy of the Mount Si Jazz Band and friends. As a bonus, the Kiwanis Club and Rotary have pledged to match ticket sales up to $6,000. Space is limited to 120 people with reservations being accepted until March 31st.
100% of the proceeds from the Little Town Blues fundraiser evening, as well as matching funds, go directly to support the Essentially Ellington New York trip.
For more information, to purchase tickets to Little Town Blues fundraiser or to just donate and help get Mount Si Jazz Band to New York City, visit the Mount Si High School Bands website. So far nearly $3,000 has been raised for the trip.
