Dancing and Dining Raises Funds for Orchestra

Becoming a tradition at , the second annual Come Fly with Me orchestra fundraiser at the high school mixed music and gourmet dining Saturday in order to support orchestra activities.

"This gives the students a good opportunity to use their skills and talents, instead of just selling items to raise money," said orchestra director Katie Petersen. "It's more involved than other fundraising activities, and the money goes toward performance and travel opportunities for the orchestra."

Making one extensive trip every other year, previous trips the GHS Orchestra has gone on include traveling to San Francisco and Boston, as well as a more recent and smaller trip to the Capitol Building in Madison to perform.

The set list at the formal, fundraising event focused on danceable tunes and gave the students the opportunity to play songs that are outside of the typical classical or pops arrangements, such as a polka or the song "Zombie" by the modern, alternative group The Cranberries.

"We play different types of music at this event," said Petersen. "The tunes are geared toward what the students might play when they move on to a community orchestra or modern group."

The GHS Orchestra currently includes 62 students, and approximately 90 people attended the fundraising event, which was held in the school cafeteria. On the menu for the non-alcoholic evening was a choice of tenderloin beef tips in gravy or chicken kiev.

Aside from the meal and music, raffles and silent auction items were also available, as well as a student-run photo booth for studio portrait photography.

"This event gives my Camera Media Club students a great opportunity to act and work as professional photographers," said art teacher Tina Mitchell. "It gets them out of the classroom setting and gives them real world experience."