The need to have new class sets of musical instruments belonging to BICS was identified at the start of the school year, and the cost for the wish list put together by music teacher Steve Karagianis, a.k.a. Mr. K, was going to be over $9,000. Most of the current instruments are currently on loan, not part of a class set, and don't meet the needs of our expanded music program. Parents, students and community members were inspired by the winter concert, and began donating, fundraising and grant-writing. Now, tallying up the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Island Jam fundraiser, the grant from the Gift of Music SD45 Trust Fund, and the donations from the West Coast Symphony, a private donor, and students Duncan and Sabrina Glave (who donated part of their Bowfest logo contest winnings towards the music fundraising,) it all adds up to $9,347.99!
"We will be able to buy all the basics we hoped we could purchase and then get some really nice extras like the contrabass bars, the chromatic attachment racks and the PA," Mr. K said, adding that on his shopping list are 12 xylophones, six contrabass xylophone bars, three or four chromatic xylophone attachment racks, 21 hand drums (dumbeks and djembes), one keyboard amp, five guitars, four ukuleles and a PA to use in the classroom and at concerts.
Mr. K wanted to extend a personal thank you to the organizers of the Island Jam fundraiser Kristin Jarvis, Carmen Lane, Sue McIntyre, Sarah Wilson, all the volunteers that helped the night of the event and the generous souls who made donations.
The PAC Island Jam Fundraiser raised an incredible $5,797.99 and the SD45 A Gift of Music Trust Fund granted $3,000.
A Gift of Music SD45 Trust Fund: As part of his retirement gift to the school district, former Superintendent Geoff Jopson established a legacy fund to enhance the district music programs (i.e. vocal, choral and instrumental). Purchases made with these funds should provide the school with an enhancement to the music program and can be identified as a legacy gift from the fund. Schools wishing to access these funds do so through an application process, and Mr. K's application was awarded $3,000.
On February 22, the Island Jam took place at the Bowen Island Lodge.Guests began arriving after 6 o'clock, greeted by buskers playing in the lobby. Young talents were ushered into the "green room" to await performance time. The musical program kicked off with a 120-person icebreaker led by Mr. K. who recreated kindergarten music class, featuring adults on percussion using claves, rhythm sticks and boomwhackers. After that, several accomplished young musicians provided music on piano and violin. Another eight adult guests were lucky to enjoy an improvisational experience led by Laurence Santos. With help from over 100 singers, the adult improv group performed Don't Worry Be Happy. Two student performances featured over 30 BICS students on xylophones, glockenspiels, violins and piano. The kids programming ended with the Grade 6 and 7 bands. The green room shut down for the night at nine o'clock as caregivers escorted the happy student musicians home. John Stiver's Island Jam house band, "Stiver Steves y Los Santos del Ritmo", took over and delivered two hot sets to a full dance floor.
The event would not have been possible without the involvement of a very large number of BICS parents, teachers, and staff. All jobs associated with the event, other than the preparation food was performed by volunteers.
There are simply too many people to list - thank you to you all.
