CHS Choir plans fundraiser for Gettysburg trip
COSHOCTON – Michael Blowers’ students have been known to tease that he teaches history not music. In May, Blowers, who is the choir director at Coshocton High School, will give students the best of both worlds with a planned trip to Gettysburg, Pa.
“You can’t separate music from our history,” he said. “This is an excellent opportunity for the students to see that music serves a purpose. We are going to work not just on war songs from that time period, but also folk songs that talk about the culture.”
During the trip, 30 members of the high school choir will get to stay at the historical Gettysburg Hotel, explore the sites and participate in a workshop and performances that Blowers is arranging with representatives from Gettysburg College.
“I kept getting e-mails from different companies planning things for the 150th commemoration of the Civil War and since it (the Civil War) has always been a hobby of mine I wanted to try and make this happen,” Blowers said.
The trip is planned for May 2-4, and Blowers has the full support of Principal Grant Fauver.
“He’s been a real supporter and encouraging during this whole endeavor,” Blowers said. “I really appreciate it.”
The choir, however, still has to raise $6,000 for its hotel rooms and some of the cost of transportation, which is being provided by Muskingum Coach.
“The students all have to work our fundraisers,” Blowers said. “If not, they have to come up with the cash for what they could have made.”
Candy bar and donut sales have helped and so will assistants from the music boosters, but Blowers is planning for the bulk of the money to be raised during the Coshocton High School Choir March to Gettysburg Chili Cook-off and Dinner Fundraiser.
The big event is planned for Saturday, Feb. 23, in the high school cafeteria. Tickets will be $10 and available from various student organizations, who will receive $3 for every ticket they sale.
Samplings of chili and meals of chili and grilled cheese will be available from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Entertainment will be provided through a talent show for elementary students being organized by their music teachers.
At the end of each serving, first through third place chili cook-off winners will be named and awarded $50, $35, and $15 respectively.
“We want to have corporate sponsors to give out the awards,” Blowers said.
Right now the sponsors are Doug Marmie State Farm Insurance and Local Team Shop. Businesses or organizations also are encouraged to be corporate sponsors by purchasing 10 or more tickets, which will be on sale until Friday, Feb. 15.
“I’m hoping teachers and even companies might want to be chili cookers,” Blowers said. “I think it’s going to be fun and something people will want to do.”
Chili cook-off participants will need to prepare two crock pots of chili.
“The students really liked the idea,” Blowers said. “Some of them wanted to enter their own chili but I suggested they have their parents do that because I am going to need their help.”
Tickets for the event are available at the Coshocton High School Main Office or from members of the CHS Junior Class, the Art Club, Mrs. Shooks’ class and band and choir members. Forms to enter the chili cook-off also are at the main office or they can be obtained by e-mailing michael.blowers@omeresa.net.
“I’m really excited about this trip,” Blowers said. “It’s about more than music. It’s going to teach the students something about their heritage. The Civil War was a terrible war, but it defined who we are.”
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Education
