By Anna Matson, staff writer
Indian Trail’s band program held their fifth annual Jazz Night and Pasta Dinner fundraiser on April 9, 2016 at Cortese’s Banquet Hall. This event is the band’s main and most successful fundraiser because of the support of the parents and students.
“It’s a homegrown thing… everybody has a role to play in helping the dinner be successful,” said Ken Wiele, IT band director.
The band program raised over $1,100 at this year’s dinner due to the band students selling over 500 tickets in advance, then more were purchased at the door. JR Buzzell, who served as the master of ceremonies, gave the auction items and raffle baskets plenty of buzz as the event progressed.
The event is planned months in advance by a group of band parents who communicate with the business community to solicit donations for the raffle baskets and auction items.
“Mr. Wiele, Mrs. Wiele and eight parents were on the planning committee. Tracy Buzzell was the committee chairperson,” said Theresa Ness, parent from planning committee. “Planning and donation requests for the event started in September- seven months ago.”
“We’ve been so fortunate to have the support of the business community,” said Wiele.
Fifty-five businesses donated toward the pasta dinner this year; these donations varied from gift certificates for items or services to the business’s products.
“The Packers even donated a football signed by the whole team,” said Ness.
While the jazz bands are performing the other students who are in the regular concert bands volunteer at the event.
“I helped out by selling the stuff that was prepared for the bake sale,” said Evan Finger, IT clarinetist.
“I helped bus tables as well as seating people,” said Krystal Shada, IT flutist.
Some students did double duty since they were both performers as well as volunteers.
“This year was my last pasta dinner and I knew how much work went into
making it a possibility, so I wanted to be a part of the team,” said Lucas Davis, IT trumpet and tuba player. “I’ve never seen an event so energetic and beneficial to a program. Playing at the pasta dinner is always the highlight of being in jazz band.”
The program’s former students have come back to support the current students, and the same senior performers anticipate coming back to be a part of the audience.
“I’m sure going to miss playing, but I will return as an audience member every year,” said Davis.
This year’s dinner featured an extra group that hadn’t performed at an IT jazz event: The tuba quartet performing the theme from The Pink Panther.
“I really enjoyed playing the piece and participating in the jazz night,” said Anthony Koterbski, IT tuba player. “It was odd as a tuba, which is not usually a jazz instrument, to play in a jazz festival.”