Benefit to help Owatonna music
For the 14th year, the Music Boosters of Owatonna, will be raising money for the department through its annual concert held on Saturday, Jan. 11.
“Not only is this benefit concert a fun evening showcasing musical talent from students from many different ages-- elementary, middle school and high school in Owatonna, MBO relies on this fundraiser as one of only three sources that help us financially support music education in Owatonna,” said co-president Jesse Hess. “This is our biggest fundraiser of the year.”
Over the past couple of years, the benefit has raised between $8,000 and $9,000 “through very generous donations from our community,” Hess said.
“There is so much support for music in Owatonna. It is just unbelievable,” Hess said. “The Owatonna community, individuals, and businesses are so generous. The school district and staff you can see just really value music and what it means for their students. The music teachers from elementary all the way through high school are fabulous. They help inspire a passion for music in their students. Our Owatonna kids are fortunate to be a part of it all.”
Hess explained that the mission of the organization is “to support and advocate for music and music education as essential to lifelong learning of our students and community.”
“Music Boosters started in 1982 from a group of concerned Owatonna community members as a result of budget cuts that threatened the music program in the school district,” Hess said. “42 years later we are still able to financially support music programs in Owatonna.”
Hess said there will be musicians playing from various age groups. “For example, just to name a few this year we have performances from the OHS jazz ensemble, OHS winter percussion, OHS dinner ensemble, OHS vocalists, OMS strings, elementary band members, elementary strings, piano quartet with elementary music teachers, OHS Flute quartet and saxophone quintet,” she said.
Hall of Fame inductees will also be announced during the event.
Each year, Hess said, there is a “pass the hat item” that goes to a specific music department, and this year, it will go to help the Middle School orchestra department.
“They are in need of six bass cases with wheels to make it much safer for kids when they are walking with their instrument,” Hess said. “Those basses are big, and those middle schoolers are not so we want to help make it safer for them to transfer their instruments. The cases can total up to $3,000.”
The event will be taking place on Saturday in the Wenger Arts Performing Center at OHS. Silent Auction starts at 6 p.m., and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door.