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1-17-2008 By MICHELLE MILLER Staff Writer FOMA member and past president Ellen Tillapaugh said this will be the 15th year the organization has presented the traditional Cabaret Night, but said it is never exactly the same year to year. Tillapaugh said the show "changes in scope" because each year brings a new group of students who like to try new things. Tillapaugh said the event typically has a nice mix between student performers and community groups. "It's really neat for the kids to be able to see people such as doctors playing an instrument," says Tillapaugh. "They get the chance to see you don't just take an instrument out in high school and never see it again." The annual Cabaret Night is also a good opportunity for people to get out in the middle of winter and see other people, said Tillapaugh. According to a press release sent by FOMA, Cabaret Night will consist of four hours of music that will range from jazz - Small Town Big Band, middle and high school jazz ensembles, harmonia vocal groups - to the indy rock group Cheese of the Misty Ceremony. Other acts will include instrumentalists John Rathbun and Four Winds, guitarist Ben Garcia, Bill Landon, and Connor Adsit. Student vocalists will include Andie Alban, Quinn Bernegger, Tom Craig, Johanna Hasak, Weston Honicker, Joelle LaChance, Phoenix Miller, Chelsea Moakler, Caitlin Murphy, Julia Nelson, Sarah Ruggiero and Anna Weber. Ah Coopella will perform again this year, as will Sandy Peevers and Jeane Bennett-O'Dea. Father-daughter duets will be presented by Angus and Kyle Mackie and Kurt and Virginia Ofer. Not only will the event present a variety of musical performances, but it will also feature its traditional Brooks' Bar-B-Q chicken dinner, which will be served from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The fixings will be served at tables decorated with art created by Kristen Karasek's and Eileen Murphy's students. One-quarter chicken meals will cost $7, and one-half chicken dinners will cost $9. Take out will be available. There will also be a raffle drawing supported by donations from local arts organizations and businesses, which will add to the evening's fun, said organizers. Tillapaugh said Cabaret Night typically attracts 500 people, and FOMA sells anywhere between 400 and 450 chicken dinners each year. Proceeds from Cabaret Night will be used by FOMA to fund summer scholarships, art awards and to support music and arts education at CCS, according to organizers. Last year's Cabaret Night raised $16,049 according to the FOMA annual report given by President Annie Stewart at last Wednesday's CCS board of education meeting. Tillapaugh said FOMA is basically a booster club that supports and promotes the arts at CCS. The group was founded in 1993, and includes parents and community members. During Stewart's annual report to the board, she said FOMA is always looking for new members. "One of our biggest challenges this year is getting more people to join the group," Stewart said. According to the annual report, FOMA has approximately 50 donors with about $14,000 worth of funds. The report said the group raised about $16,000 in the 2006- 2007 school year. Stewart said last year, FOMA was able to donate $800 in summer scholarships to four students and would like to see that number increase this year. Summer Camp Scholarships are awarded to students attending a variety of summer programs focused on music, art, theater, dance or writing. According to the school's website, FOMA provides all the programs for the middle/ high school concerts, and donates four art awards each year totaling $450. Stewart said during the annual report that $1,000 was donated to the music program last year so students could continue their instrument lessons through the summer months, free of charge. Tillapaugh said FOMA supports the NYSSMA and All- County programs by covering the cost of student medals. FOMA recently started funding an English language arts program, says Tillapaugh. She also said FOMA offers students an opportunity to purchase musical instruments and equipment at discount prices. FOMA also assists with the All-County Festival that is held at CCS every few years, said Tillapaugh. |
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