Will Crowd Funding Help Choirs End Their Season on a High Note?

The CHS Choral Boosters are the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (tax ID 30-0208051) dedicated to supporting the students in the vocal music program at Carlsbad High School. They are tasked with raising funds so that every choir member gets a chance to be on stage, however, donations have been light this year. At this point there may not be funds to pay the band for the students’ final competition of the season or their spring Pop Show for the Carlsbad community – which showcases all the choir students and is a major fundraiser. The traditional end-of-the-year banquet and award celebration for all of the students may be cancelled. Carlsbad High’s vocal music students compete – and win – against schools with double the budget. Costumes, musicians, choreographers, vocal clinicians, competition fees, equipment, props, and more are all paid for through fundraising and donations by the CHS Choral Boosters. While the Boosters have been able to raise almost $85,000 for this program, there is a $50,000 shortfall.

In an effort to make up this shortfall, the students and booster parents are hoping crowd funding will bring in the funds needed to end the season on a high note. The students put together a video, the Boosters set up the site at https://www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/help-save-carlsbad-high-school-choirs. All stakeholders will send out the call to friends and relatives near and far. They also hope everyone will come out and see the Pop Show, June 2 - 4, at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center.

This competition season has been an intense journey for the students in Carlsbad High School’s Vocal Music Program. Carlsbad’s advanced mixed choir, Chamber Singers, received a “superior” rating – the highest possible - for their vocal skills at the Bonita Vista competition. Sound Express, the advanced mixed show choir, swept the Hart competition receiving first place and awards for musicianship and showmanship. Encore, the intermediate women’s show choir, swept the Burbank competition also winning first place, musicianship and showmanship. CHS Choral Director, Jessie Bullock, said “I am elated that both Encore and Sound Express took the musicianship award in their divisions. Each of our groups has improved so much so quickly this season. They have been very motivated to better themselves and do better each week.”

The Carlsbad High School Vocal Music Program is made up of 110 dedicated and disciplined students, and is one of the few remaining programs in San Diego County. It strives to promote awareness, appreciation, and expression of the arts in the community. The Program consists of both classical repertoires and show choir sets. The four award-winning choirs are: Chamber Singers, the advanced mixed choir; Encore, the intermediate women’s show choir; Sound Express, the advanced mixed show choir; and Lancer Choir, the beginning mixed choir. Students learn sight singing skills, music theory, music history, as well as classical and modern music in multi-part harmonies. In addition to winter and spring concerts, the choirs compete with other choirs for trophies and awards. Carlsbad High School is proud to be the recipient of numerous awards both locally and nationally. The strength of the program is evidence of the commitment of their choir director, Mr. Jessie Bullock. Please visit http://www.chschoral.com for more information.