JHS music students raise money for trip

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The trip of a lifetime for 15 Jamestown High School music students is months away but preparations are already moving as they look to raise thousands of dollars for the cost.

Teachers nominated band and choir members ranging from sophomores to seniors for the 2 1/2-week trip that will show students seven European countries, said Cheryl McIntyre, trip chaperone and director of choirs at the high school.

The cost to visit England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy and Lichtenstein is roughly $5,000 for each student.

“I think that there’s no better way to study these countries and get the kids interested in foreign affairs than to visit the places we’re talking about,” McIntyre said.

Culture is only part of the trip, she said. Music is the other component.

The Jamestown students will join nearly 300 more from North Dakota and Montana and perform at castles, cathedrals, town squares and even the Eiffel Tower, McIntyre said.

Students in the choir will sing a cappella, while the band will play a mix of everything from patriotic tunes to jazz standards, she said.

“It’s a big job, the kids get the music a little before a month than they’ll leave,” McIntyre said.

While the trip may be next year, parents and students are already hard at work trying all sorts of ways to raise the funds, said Jennifer Wentz, member of the Northern Ambassadors of Music Committee.

“These kids are willing to do a lot of different things,” Wentz said.

Her 17-year-old daughter, Alyssa Daly, even sold her own car to raise money for the trip.

Some less extreme ideas and things students have done so far is sell concessions at local events, baby-sit at churches, help the Kiwanis Club with various things, put on a breakfast, do coat checks at formal events and clean ditches, she said.

“Working together so our kids can have this once-in-a-lifetime experience is fun,” Wentz said.

Still more ways to raise money is always needed because the number of students this year is higher than before, she said.

“There’s a lot more they need to do to raise (the funds),” Wentz said.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455

or by e-mail at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: community, education, students, jamestown, music, trip, europe, england, france, switzerland, austria, germany, italy, lichtenstein