June 10, 1998

Concert auctions benefit youth

By Jacquie Thomas
Herald Editor

      "At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn, their plenty will supply what you need."
      2 Corinthians 8:14
      "We feel blessed that we at the Grand Bay Kite Co. have this opportunity to give" said Michelle Antaya, Public Affairs Director for the company. "We all have so much compared to what we've been able to see on some of our mission trips."
      "That we are helping in some small way, gives us energy for those Beanie Baby war stories that we aren't so proud of."
      Grand Bay Kite Company has donated 12 Princess Di and 12 Peace Bears to the United Way Foundation for silent auction during performances at the National Youth Orchestra Festival at Interlochen Center for the Arts June 12-15.
      All proceeds will be invested in youth oriented programs and services through United Way of Northwest Michigan. A Princess Di Bear and a poster will be displayed at the United Way booth in the lobby of Corson Auditorium during the concerts. The minimum bid will start at $200.00. Bids only will be posted on a flip chart. The participants name, bid and payment preference will be recorded separately by a United Way staff person.
      All bids will be posted until the end of intermission or when bidding stops after the call for the audience to return to their seats. The highest bid will be posted at our booth at the end of the performance. The person that the highest bid belongs to will have the following choices regarding payment method: 1) Cash or local check with valid identification 2) Credit card with valid identification. Upon payment, the proud parent of the Princess Di Bear will get to take the one on display home with them.
      Interlochen Center for the Arts and the American Symphony Orchestra League will bring together over 400 of the nation's most accomplished student musicians for this five concert extravaganza.
      The young musicians will work with distinguished conductors, principal players and members of the nation's leading orchestras in performance and workshops. The students will perform a wide range of repertoire in their own orchestra as well mxing into five festival orchestras. Renowned conductor James DePreist is the Festival's Artistic Director.
      It is the youth orchestra that provides young musicians with their early career training. Until now, the only option for youth orchestras to learn in a festival setting was to travel to Europe and other countries, a costly option that excluded many.
      In 1993, the American Symphony Orchestra League and the Interlochen Center for the Arts made a commitment to sponsor this ground-breaking event, providing a cost-effective alternative to touring and a forum for orchestral playing.
      All five National Youth Orchestra Festival concerts will take place in Corson Auditorium. Student orchestras from Saint Louis and Cleveland will perform at 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 12; Chicago and the New England Conservatory will perform at 8:30 Saturday, June 13; students from all orchestras will blend and team up as five National Youth Orchestra Festival Orchestras for performances at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, June 14 and at 4:30 Monday, June 15. The gala closing performance will be led by James DePreist at 8:30 p.m. Monday, June 15.
      A related event will be "See, Touch and Hear the Music", an interactive opportunity for people with disabilities to explore music with the youth orchestras. Conductor DePriest will direct the ensemble, describe the instruments and sounds and invite the disabled in the audience on stage. The event is Monday, June 15 at 3 p.m. in Corson Auditorium. RSVP is required by calling Very Special Arts at 616-941-0560 by June 12.
      "United Way of Northwest Michigan is a natural benefit recipient of the proceeds from the Festival because they are committed to building developmental assets in youth and music is one of those assets that young people need to help them make wise decisions and choose positive lifestyles" said Rita Melotti, Development Director of United Way of Northwest Michigan.
      Music is a developmental asset? "Yes. Search Institue in Minnesota, which conducts practical research into what benefits children and youth, found when youth are involved in creative activities like music at least three hours a week, they are acquiring building blocks that will assist them to develop into responsible citizens" added Melotti.