The Fayette Citizen-News Page

Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Rising Starr band readies for Chicago trip

During the holiday season, most children have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.

But students in the Rising Starr Middle School Symphonic Band will have a different kind of vision next week: The Miracle Mile, the Lake Michigan shore, Wrigley Field and maybe Oprah Winfrey.

The students leave Monday for a week-long trip to Chicago to perform at the prestigious Midwestern International Band and Orchestra Clinic.

A send-off concert featuring the music to be played in Chicago was held last week in the school auditorium, as a send-off to contributors to helped the band raise more than $20,000 for the trip.

“Rehearsals are going well, and we hope we have created a concert that the kids and the community can be proud of,” said band director Steven Tyndall.

Last week, the band was busy rehearsing with its featured soloist, Robert Bush, a professional flautist who has performed at New York’s renowned Carnegie Hall.

The Rising Starr Symphonic Band is one of only 13 bands chosen to play in Chicago this year. A total of 30 bands, orchestras, jazz groups and small ensembles were selected by taped audition to be featured at the 5-day conference, a must-attend event for music educators and performers from around the globe.

Rising Starr’s Chicago debut will be at 4:15 p.m. next Wednesday, Dec. 17, in the clinic’s International Ballroom.

“I can’t express my appreciation enough to the parents and members of the community who succeeded in getting the band to Chicago,” said Tyndall.

The band raised more than $20,000, which was enough to pay for essentials and to save some on the cost of the trip paid by each family.

The Rising Starr Band thanks the following supporters who made the Chicago trip a reality:

Platinum donors: Dr. and Mrs. John McNair, Mucklow’s Fine Jewelry, Gimme Shelter, Peachtree City Chick-Fil-A, Rising Starr PTO, and Hollis Harris of World Airways.

Gold patrons: Tim and Corina Barbee, Bruster’s, Du-Roc Cafe, Peachtree City Rotary Club, Peachtree National Bank, Town Center Chick-Fil-A, Freeman Forms and Supplies, Music and Arts Center, Kiwanis Club of Peachtree City, and Tom Stroud.

Silver patrons: Debtree Realty, Walter Hudson, D.D.S., Woodmen of the World Lodge, Braelinn Village Family Dentistry, Judy Brinson, Creative Memories, Gordon Fleming, D.D.S., Jean Green, Charles Lindsey, D.M.D, M.S.D., Michael Mahaffey, D.M.D., M.S., Mr. Lawrence McIntosh, Scott T. McPherson, D.D.S., Edward and Nancy Newman, Regions Bank, Remax of Atlanta, Timberline Construction, and J. Michael Ward, D.D.S.

Silent auction contributors included The Amish Place, Allied Dome Spirits, Andy’s Discount Nursery and Landscape, Atlanta Designer Fabrics, Atlanta Market Finds, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Attina’s Music, Betty’s Fine Collectibles, Bicycles Unlimited, Blockbuster Video, Boulignini, Braelinn Florist, Buck’s Pizza, Bulldog Supply Golf Cars, Carter’s Clothing Outlets, Chick-Fil-A of Peachtree City, Chili’s Grill and Bar, Chin Chin Chinese Restaurant, Classy Rose Florist, Collector’s Corner, Computer South, EB Games, The Elephant’s Tale, Fat City Skates and Bikes, Fat City Paintball, Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, Freeman Forms and Supplies, Gill-Roy’s Complete Hardware and Lumber, Goody Hair, Great Frame Up, Gullet Designs, Hair I Am, Holiday Inn, Honeybaked Hams, Hooters, Radio Station J 93.3, Jackson’s Music Store, Jennifer’s Teas, Johnny Carino’s Country Italian Restaurant, Longhorn Steakhouse, Marble Slab Creamery, McAllister’s Deli, Make A Mark Printing (Sarah Palmer), Mike and C’s, Miss Minnie’s Cottage, Olde Mill Steakhouse, Omega Books, One Magnolia Lane, Original Pancake House, Outback Steakhouse, Pascal’s Bistro, Peachtree City Jewelers, Peachtree City Kennels, Peachtree Golf Cars, Peachtree Florist and Accents, Pike Family Nurseries, Plumyumi Day Spa, Pointe South Florist, Puppy Tubs, Ruby Tuesday, Salon Serenity, Smith and Davis Clothing, Fred Smith Furniture, Staples, Starrs Mill High School Administration, Stevi B’s Pizza, T & G Allsports, Teavana Teahouse and Gifts, Teressa’s Doggie Boutique, Tinseltown, Toys R Us, Village Cafe, Wendell Coffee Golf Center, and Whitewater Creek Country Club.

Individual auction donors were Steve and Nancy Balkcom, Nancy Boucher, Jackie Bowen, Fiona Dennis, Anita Denny, Leigh Ann Harris, the Mesko Family, Deb Mittelman, Anne Myers, Patti O’Hara, Lynne Roseen, Debra Sanders, Roxanne Smith, Lisa Splitlog, Dorrie and Richard Thompson, Steve and Vicki Troyer, Josie Waldeck, and Jean-Pierre and Sara Wetli.

Tyndall and the band members also expressed thanks to Rising Starr principal Lenore Patten, community supporters Frank Lynch and Gwen Griffin of The Citizen newspapers, and Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown.


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