To make this trip a reality the choir is working hard to fundraise for their upcoming trip to Los Angeles this June. This trip is an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in a world of music and theater while in a different city.
The choir recently held a “Fill the Truck” event on Feb. 8, partnering with Evergreen Goodwill to collect donations of gently used goods. This event, alongside a previous Hops n Drops fundraiser on October 23, 2024, and a mod pizza fundraiser on December 17, 2024, has helped raise a significant amount for the trip.
“We’re filling up a truck to raise money for our choir so we can go to LA June 16 through 19th this year,” Emily Malloy, a choir student at Central Kitsap High School said.
The choir plans on doing two more fundraisers before their trip in June. One of them is an “unfundraiser,” which is a more personal way to raise money by asking family and friends for donations instead of strangers. The other is a sponsorship drive for their upcoming musical theater concert production of “Hadestown” in March.
“Each student’s trip would cost about $1,000, and we’ve raised about $200 per person so far,” Alicia Rodenko, choir teacher at Central Kitsap High School said. “Hadestown in March is our biggest fundraiser of the year. Usually, we raise about $10,000. Not all of it will go to the LA trip, but a considerable amount will.”
These fundraisers are critical to making the trip financially possible for students and families who are all eager for this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
“In LA we will be increasing our musical intellectual expertise by visiting musicals and museums,” Micah Boike, a choir student at Central Kitsap High School said.
The trip to Los Angeles will not only be about enjoying popular shows and performances but will also include educational events. The choir plans to visit many world-renowned music venues and landmarks, including the Grammy Museum and the Disney Concert Hall. They will also get an exclusive backstage tour at the Hollywood Bowl while in Los Angeles. These different forms of music, theater, and art will deepen the students’ knowledge in ways that a classroom cannot.
“Travel is a really important skill,” Rodenko said. “Besides just a skill, it’s an important part of life to get outside of what you have seen regularly and see new places and how people live. It’s also essential for them to see how different infrastructures and society’s function. But it’s equally important that we go to see shows.”
The choir’s journey to Los Angeles is more than just a trip; it’s an opportunity for students to grow both personally and musically. Despite some concerns regarding traveling, especially with current events in Los Angeles, the choir remains committed to making this trip possible.
“Learning about the LA fires put LA back into the front of my mind,” Rodenko said. “We were going to wait and see how things went [with the fires in Los Angeles] and then have a conversation about the ethics of traveling. I’ve been talking with family, friends, and the different organizations we’re meeting with, and they feel okay about it.”
As the choir continues fundraising, the students and their families are hopeful that with the support of the community they will be able to financially make this trip a reality. The upcoming fundraiser will go a long way in ensuring students gain these invaluable experiences in Los Angeles this summer.
“I’m really glad that we live in a district that supports student travel,” Rodenko said. “I think it’s an important part of our lives, and it’s an experience these students will carry with them forever.”
