With the beginning of a new school year, the members of the Instrumental Music Council hope to hold fundraisers to benefit the music program and create a friendly community for all music students at Carlmont.
The club meets weekly on Fridays at lunch in front of F20 to discuss new ideas and future plans.
Alyssa Fong, a senior and club president, said, “The club is designed to give students an opportunity for leadership experience in the music program. Throughout the year, the average Music Council member would participate in fundraisers, outreach programs, and community performances.”
Last year, the council organized a fundraiser at Chamber Music Night.
“We sold Good Luck Grams on Chamber Music Night, where friends could buy grams of candy and write a note for the performers before they went on stage,” said Will Alvarez Rutz , a sophomore and member of the council.
The council also aims to assist the Music Boosters program, where they helped the program reach an important achievement.
“We actually helped Music Boosters achieve an important goal last year: giving [music teacher] Brian Switzer a full-time teaching position paid for by the school,” said Fong.
The Instrumental Music Council has been run by the music teachers in the past, but Fong’s goal as the president includes giving students a bigger role.
“I’m seeing people come into this club with perspectives completely different from mine and getting to learn from them. In class, I’ll really see people in the club taking leadership initiative and representing the music program,” said Fong.
The club has experienced growth in numbers since Fong became president.
“When I started as president, there were only three people in the club. Now it’s a good-sized operating council,” said Fong.
The Instrumental Music Council isn’t the only club created to help the music program at at Carlmont.
Sophomore and member Victoria Vega said, “This club connects the music families. There’s others like the Choir Council and the Instrumental Music Council, and we can connect people through these clubs and together bring more awareness and money to the programs.”
Being part of the council allows music students to get involved at Carlmont and help set a positive impact on the music program.
Since the club is restricted to students that are part of the instrumental ensembles at Carlmont, the council provides an open and welcoming invitation to the music students. “The unique thing about this type of music club is that it doesn’t matter which group you’re in or how well you can play. It’s genuinely open to everyone in the music program, and the members of the club are nothing but welcoming,” said Fong.
With the Spring Tour 2018 coming up this spring break for the members of the Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble, the council targets to raise money for student scholarships. “We’re hoping to use some of our Music Council funds to let students apply for a tour scholarship to cover some of the costs for the trip,” said Fong.
