Holiday sale to aid music students' trip

Written by Louise Washer
Wednesday, 21 October 2009 15:12

Wilton High School music students — the Warrior Band, orchestra and chorus — are selling holiday pies and greenery to raise money for a trip to the annual Festivals of Music Adjudication in April.

Last year, Wilton High School came home with 15 awards including Festival Best Orchestra, Festival Best Jazz Ensemble and Festival Best Choral Group.

The trip costs $500 per student and takes place over two days in Hershey, Pa., where Wilton will compete with other regional high schools. Many students must raise the entire cost of their trip by selling pies, greenery and magazines. The kids hosted a pie tasting at the first football game and are hanging flyers around town to help drum up sales.

“We have been doing adjudication trips since 1987,” said bandleader Chip Gawle. “Typically, students raise between $10,000 and $20,000 to defray the cost of their individual trips. All the money they raise goes toward their own trip account. The trips are always a highlight of the school year. The students work hard to achieve excellence musically as they are judged by professionals by national standards, they have a great time, and they do something worthwhile together for the school, the program and the town.”

The pies being sold — Grandma Miller’s Pies — come directly from Vermont and flavors include apple, cherry, peach, pumpkin, strawberry-rhubarb and pecan. Holiday stolen as well as chicken pot pies and quick breads such as banana, cranberry orange pecan and zucchini nut are also available. The greenery for sale includes poinsettias, wreaths, centerpieces and garland roping. All items are available for order now through the Wilton High School Web site Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) fund-raising section at www.wilton.k12.ct.us/whs/.

The deadline for pie orders is Friday, Oct. 30, and the pies will be available for pickup at the high school on Saturday, Nov. 21. The deadline for greenery orders is Monday, Nov. 23, and pick-up will be at the high school on Saturday, Dec. 5. For more information contact Liz Suchy 762-8162 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Amy Gepes-Wiener at 762-8352 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Donations are also accepted.