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Westview Gold Boosters
P.O. Box 720134
San Diego, CA 92172-0134
(www.WestviewGold.org)

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2009 Carnegie Hall Trip

Trips

Westview Gold WIND ENSEMBLE invited to play at Carnegie Hall


Carnegie Hall — located at 7th Ave & West 57th Street, New York, NY (Yahoo Map)

After a successful audition, our own Westview Gold Wind Ensemble has been officially invited to perform in the New York Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall in New York City!

The date of this once in a lifetime event is April 8, 2009 . The Wind Ensemble will leave for New York on Sunday, April 5, 2009 and return back to San Diego on Thursday, April 9, 2009.  Fundraising efforts have begun in order to make this 5 day trip a reality.  Only six high schools and 2 colleges were selected!  Other activities include an outdoor performance in Central Park, workshops, and an evening dinner cruise on the Hudson River with a view of the Statue of Liberty.

Congratulations to the 2009 Wind Ensemble!

Carnegie Hall Website

Carnegie Hall Fundraising Campaign

Thank you for supporting the Westview Gold Wind Ensemble Carnegie Hall trip.
Mail donations to:

Westview Gold Boosters
P.O. Box 723009
San Diego, CA 92172-3009

The Carnegie Hall Trip Donation Flyer (881 PDF file) contains more information about how to make a significant contribution to this worth while trip.

The article below has been re-printed with permission from the Westview newspaper "The Nexus" (Volume 6, Issue II, June 6, 2008).

Band qualifies to perform at Carnegie Hall

Jill Mierke
Staff Writer

Westview Gold's Wind Ensemble recently received notice that they will perform at Carnegie Hall in New York as a result of a successful audition for the New Wind Band Festival.  They will travel across the country to perform next year on April 8, 2009.

Carnegie Hall, with its rich musical history, is recognized worldwide as one of the most famous music halls in the United States.  It is rented out each year specifically for the New Wind Band Festival and students form chosen bands are given the opportunity to play there.

Band director Jeri Webb auditioned the band by sending in tapes of Wind Ensemble's performance, even though she said the chance of getting accepted were slim to none.

"Only six high schools [are allowed to perform]," she said.  "When I first called, [the judges] recommended that we shouldn't even try out because our school was so young.  But I sent in the tapes of us performing and a few days later they called me back and said, 'You guys are amazing.'"

Although Webb said that this is an amazing opportunity for Westview Gold, it also puts pressure on Wind Ensemble, which must raise $1,200 for each student in order to fund the trip.  Webb said she has less than a year to plan fundraisers and to raise enough money to ease the financial strain.

"There was actually a benefit concert on May 22, 2008, " she said.  "We raised $1,300, and I hope by the end to raise $10,000.  It's hard though with all the kids so busy with AP classes, sports and everything else they do."

Despite the price tag, Wind Ensemble members remain excited about the trip.

"[When I first found out] I was so excited," Denise Doan (10) said.  "It's going to be so fun, traveling all that way with the people in band.  And to be playing at Carnegie Hall, it's amazing."

Justin Scheid (12), a four-year member of the band who serves as drum major in the marching band, voiced hope that even more opportunities like this will come along for Westview Gold in the future.

"All it takes is one show, one concert, one person in the audience to say 'Hey, I like them' and then even more doors will open up, " Scheid said.  "Look at Rancho Bernardo; they're getting the chance to perform in Europe, to go out of state. That had to start somewhere."

Scheid said the hard work needed in rehearsals and fundraising will be worth it with the performance in April.

"It's definitely going to [take] some hard work," Scheid said.  "But we're going to show the nation how good Westview is."