right, performs a duet with
her father, Thing 3 lead
singer and guitarist Matt
Didier, during the H-F
Orchestra Spain Tour
fundraising auction Jan. 17.
(Photo by Eric Crump/The
Chronicle)
Those who attended A Mid-Winter’s Fiesta Saturday, Jan. 17, at Homewood-Flossmoor High School enjoyed Spanish food, great music and the fun of silent and live auctions, according to event organizers.
And they contributed to the fund that will help about 60 student musicians participate in a tour of Spain this spring.
“We’re very happy with the way the evening went overall,” said Shelley Peck, co-chair of the planning committee with Sharon Bouchie. “Over 500 tickets were sold. The catered tapas from Chartwell’s were delicious. People couldn’t get enough of the donated dessert tapas and cupcakes from Bakewells Bakery. And of course, the music was great.”
B.J Engrav, H-F High School orchestra director, added his thanks to the community for its support.
“We’re so grateful that literally hundreds of people turned out to support the great tradition of the H-F international music tour,” Engrav said. “After last Saturday’s Fiesta, this year’s tour students are more excited than ever to travel to Spain.”
performs with the auction’s
opening band, Staff Infection
and the Southside Horns.
(Photo by Eric Crump/The
Chronicle)
The students have played a big part in the fund raising campaign, helping with booths at local festivals, portraying zombies lurking and lurching for the cause and Saturday they offered their time and talents in the silent auction. Bidders had a chance to win babysitting, snow shoveling, cake baking, music lessons, academic tutoring, scrapbooking and more.
They also played a big part in the entertainment for the evening.
The show started with a set by Staff Infection and the Southside Horns with tour student Andrew Dederer sitting in on drums. The orchestra’s string players performed the second set of the evening under the direction of Engrav. And the final band, Thing 3, took a break to allow tour student Bailey Didier to sit in on drums for a duet with her father, Thing 3 lead singer and guitarist Matt Didier.
The live auction run by auctioneer Alexis Snow brought in more than $3,200. Top bidders left with a $1,000 air travel voucher, 18 holes of golf and lunch at the Olympia Fields Country Club, two tickets to a Blackhawks game, a performance by Staff Infection, reserved seating and parking at the H-F graduation ceremony and a handmade quilt commemorating the 2015 Spain tour.
Peck said the net revenue for the event was not yet available.
Students who are planning to participate in the tour, as listed in the auction program:
- Bolu Ajanaku
- Jessica Barry
- Illana Battle
- Morgan Bohlman
- Nathaniel Bouchie
- Raven Brown
- Anya Brumfield
- Ginny Brunner
- Tina Calhoun
- Kayla Callahan
- Mae Carroll
- Kiara Carter
- Peter Cipriano
- Alecia Conway
- Terence Crook
- Lydia Davenport
- Andrew Dederer
- Baily Didier
- Patrick Donkel
- Angel Duncan
- Ian Fitzgerald
- Ryan Fitzgerald
- Elias Gamble
- Lola Giwa
- Jade Groble
- Lily Hamer
- Aaliyah Harris
- Shelbi Harris
- Henry Heligas
- Jasen Helsel
- Analiese Hettiger
- Terez Hobson
- Danielle Holliday
- Erique Johnson
- Alvin Jones
- Rosemary Joyce
- Raina Kalas
- Emma Kaye
- Matea Larrieu
- Kayla Lewis
- Michelle Maass
- Vivien Makos
- Noelle Maldonado
- Zachary Martens
- Imani Mason
- Christian Mayo
- Jacqueline Mazique
- Brianna Meyer
- Fiona Moran
- Maya Nakamura
- Darcey Nordman
- Leah O’Shea
- Sofia Panzica
- Angela Patterson
- Jordan Penman
- Nadia Ramos
- Caneara Smith
- Courtney Snyder
- Madison Thiros
- Destiny Watson
The tour is sponsored by state Sen. Napoleon Harris.
The event was sponsored by Chartwells food service; Advocate South Suburban Hospital; The Law Offices of Thomas Brabec; Drs. Pope and Maoloni, Orthodontic Associates; United Christian Church, Country Club Hills; Dr. George E. Morris Jr., D.D.S; Chris Dedo, Chris’ Tree Service; South Holland Vision; and Bakewell Bakery.
The Spanish Market was a raffle with prizes sponsored by Chris Webber, State Farm Insurance; Tom Revish, State Farm Insurance; Angelo Tzinares, State Farm Insurance; Dr. Judy Ann Johnson, D.D.S.; John’s Auto Service; the family of Emma Kaye; Ron Wexler, Keller Williams; Center for Dental Excellence; and Libery Inspection Services.
El Sorteo Artistico included artwork sponsored by Dzierwa Designs and the Chicago Blackhawks; Guitar Center, Candi Helsel-Wilk and Kristi Weidenhoefer; and Bernie Engrav Sr.
The cash and carry store included gift cards from local and other merchants, including 5th Quarter, Amazon.com, Bergstein’s Deli, Blueberry Hill, Camm’s Auto, Cilantro, Dragon Inn, Dunning’s Gourmet Meat Market, El Cortez, Family Video, Flossmoor Family Auto, Fresh Starts, GoodSpeed Bicycles, Grady’s Grille, Grape & Grain, Half-Price Books, Jewel, JoAnn Fabric, Kingsberry Waffle House, Marco’s Pizza, Mr. Benny’s Steakhouse, Outback Steakhouse, Pete’s Auto, Twisted Q and Walt’s Grocery.
Other donors included ACFEA, Art 4 Soul, Art Corner, Artland, Avenue Wine Bar, Avon, Matt Bailey, Balagio’s, Be Well Studio, Bergstein’s Deli, Best Buy, Blue Man Group, Brookfield Zoo, Ahmad Brown, Kathy Camera, Chicago 360 – John Hancock Observatory, Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Youth Symphony, Law Office of Douglas A. Cipriano, ComCast, John Concepcion, Dermatology and Skin Surgery Associates. Erica Desaulniers, Development Solutions, Doyle Designed, Dragon Inn, Dzierwa Designs, Edridge & Eldridge Dental, Fine Tune Auto, Fresh Starts, Global Fusion, Dr. Lisa Grant, Shirley Harrell, HealthSource Chiropractor, Dr. Flor and H-F Dental, H-F High School, Homewood ATA Karate for Kids, Homewood Florist, Hotel Burnham, Hyatt Regency McCormack Place, Hyatt Regency Miami, Illinois Tool Works, Intense Conditioning, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Jonathan Kane Salon & Spa, Jones & Cleary Roofing & Sheet Metal, Kingbury Waffles, Kirschner Vision, Dr. Laura M. Lalich, Marc Alan, Mario Tricocci, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks, Mr. Benny’s Steakhouse, Museum of Science and Industry, Nix Nax, Olympia Fields Country Club, Otterbox, Outerwall, Package Express Plus, Performer’s Music, Plum Groove Strings, Posh Salon, Prairie State College, Premier Jewelry, Ravinia, Redd Driving School, Regis Corporation, Riverdal Body Shop, Drew Senesac Home Handyman Services, Shedd Aquarium, Spirit Cruises, Sports Forum, St. James Wellness Center, Staff Infection and the Southside Horns, Starbucks on Halsted, Suburban Electric, Sugar Beach Resort Hotel, Sylvan Learning Center, Tennis Opportunity Program, Rick Theirnau Financial Services, Thomas Photography, Tower Cleaners, Trader Joe’s, Betty Turner, Twisted Q, University of Chicago Book Store, Walt Disney World, Willis Tower Sky Deck, Windy City Thunderbolts and Yehia and Co.
Organizers also offered thanks to Madeleine Bouchie for the tour logo design; to Thing 3; to the Homewood-Flossmoor Fine and Performing Arts Council, to the H-F music faculty, to the H-F school board, adminstration and staff.
Related story:
Dreaming of Spain: H-F Orchestra’s auction Jan. 17 to raise funds for trip (The Chronicle, Jan. 10, 2015)
Auction photo gallery
More information:
Spain tour