The Homewood-Flossmoor High School Band Parents Association is hosting “A Taste of Europe” fundraiser Saturday, Jan. 18, to help defray expenses for the H-F Symphonic Winds and Jazz Band’s trip to Europe.
The Homewood-Flossmoor High School Band Parents Association is hosting “A Taste of Europe” fundraiser Saturday, Jan. 18, to help defray expenses for the H-F Symphonic Winds and Jazz Band’s trip to Europe.
This 6:30 to 10 p.m. event in the H-F cafeteria brings the community together for special treats that reflect the countries the students will be performing in: Krakow, Poland; the Czech Republic’s capital of Prague and Český Krumlov, a World Heritage site in the southern region; and Slazburg, Austria.Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Tickets can be purchased from band members, or send an email request to [email protected].
This year’s menu includes pirogi, chicken papprakash, spatzle, pretzels and German chocolate cake.
Guests will also have an opportunity to bid on a host of items available through both a raffle and market place, and a live auction will include specialty items. Students will entertain throughout the evening.
The 68 students will be under the direction of teacher and band director Sarah Whitlock. This will be the fourth international tour she has directed.
For this trip, Whitlock said students are preparing music with “some standard band literature and taking a Pop's approach, similar to a Bob Pop’s concert.”
“Students gain a great deal of independence and confidence on these tours. They are required to self manage their belongings, their time in an unfamiliar environment. In addition, they gain a greater appreciation of our educational system, particularly our music education system. Being immersed in another culture is a huge education for our kids. Seeing first hand how other cultures live on a day to day basis, what they value is a valuable learning experience for them,” Whitlock said.
“Performing in another country is an experience that they will likely never have again in their lives,” she added. “So that is extremely enriching as well.”
"Thanks to the generous support of our community, H-F music students have performed in over 80 cities in 28 countries on five continents. During our fundraising events, numerous alumni of the H-F music program have shared fond memories of their tour and are so excited to see the program still exists today," said Vito D’Astici, who with his wife Margie co-chair the Band Parents Association.
The tour is sponsored by the Homewood-Flossmoor Fine and Performing Arts Council (HFFPAC), an independent organization to support local youth music programs, and H-F Band Parents Association, a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the H-F High School band program.
"Thanks to the generous support of our community, H-F music students have performed in over 80 cities in 28 countries on five continents. During our fundraising events, numerous alumni of the H-F music program have shared fond memories of their tour and are so excited to see the program still exists today," said Vito D’Astici, who with his wife Margie co-chair the Band Parents Association.
The tour is sponsored by the Homewood-Flossmoor Fine and Performing Arts Council (HFFPAC), an independent organization to support local youth music programs, and H-F Band Parents Association, a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the H-F High School band program.