By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Leah Gayagas pondered the music while the rest of the
Moanalua High School Symphony Orchestra set up
for a rehearsal Friday.
Money hurdle major
block to Moanalua’s
Carnegie gig
About $125,000 and air fares
By Debra Barayuga
are needed for the group to
perform there in March
Star-BulletinMoanalua High School's Symphony Orchestra will play Carnegie Hall -- if family, friends and community can dig deeply into their pockets. The orchestra has been invited to play there March 22.
"Nobody turns down Carnegie Hall," Jacqueline Heupel, Moanalua principal, told music director Elden Seta when he came to her with the news last February. "We'll find a way."
The marching band had just returned from performing in the Orange Bowl parade in Florida, and Seta was reluctant to impose on parents again.
Students and parents have been on a fund-raising blitz since the announcement, he said, but they still have quite a way to go.
So far, about $24,000 of $150,000 needed for expenses has been raised, Seta said.
The $150,000 only covers expenses such as equipment rentals and transportation and doesn't cover individual air fares.
He hopes they'll be able to raise money with an upcoming fun-run "Dash to Carnegie Hall" on Jan. 31 and a benefit concert at Hawaii Theatre on Feb. 24.
So far, they've sold barbecue chicken tickets, candy and other items. They've washed cars and held two school-sponsored breakfasts. They received a $5,000 donation from Jaguar for performing at the unveiling of a new car. Students are working part-time jobs, and parents are drumming up other means of raising money.
The orchestra will give a 50-minute matinee performance with pieces that include Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony, Holst's "The Planets" and Lecuona's "Andalucia."
Playing at Carnegie is not only an honor for the students but a responsibility, Seta said.
"They know they're representing everybody -- their families, the community, the state," Seta said. The performance is the culmination of years and years of hard work by students, parents and school administrators, he said. "It's payoff for everybody."
The Moanalua Symphony Orchestra has grown from 30 students to 165 students and is the largest student orchestra in the state.
"When you hear these kids for the first time ... ," Heupel said, "I could not believe they were high school kids -- they're that magnificent."
Anyone interested in contributing money for the trip can send checks payable to Elden Seta, c/o Moanalua High School at 2825 Ala Ilima St., Honolulu 96818.
For more information on the fun run, call 255-8333. Entry forms are available at all sports/running stores or at Salt Lake merchants. Tickets to the benefit concert will be available at all Connection outlets or at Hawaii Theatre.
