Raising money for the Madrigals

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- While some people spend their whole lives trying to

get to Carnegie Hall, a group of students from Ensign Intermediate School

are planning their second appearance at the famed venue.

The Ensign Madrigals, a choir of seventh- and eighth-grade students,

has been invited to perform with the National Youth Choir 2001 on March

25 at the famous hall in New York City.

“It’s great. And you know what else? It’s neat because we’ve been

there, and so it’s great not to be as nervous,” said Donna Kelsen, the

vocal music teacher at Ensign.

Kelsen took a group of students to perform with the National

Children’s Choir last year and is headed back with an even bigger group

this year to join the youth choir.

To be able to make the trek, however, the students still must raise

about $16,000 by the end of the month.

“Then we’ll be able to get everyone there,” Kelsen said. “We’ve

already raised about $47,000, but we’ve got a lot more people this year

-- 32 students.”

In an effort to raise the last several thousand, students are selling

raffle tickets for more than 50 prizes that have been donated by local

companies.

There are gift certificates for restaurants, facials -- even oil

changes.

A basket full of Chicken Soup for the Soul books has been donated, as

well as a skateboard and fishing trips, Kelsen said.Students are selling

tickets for $2 a piece or three tickets for $5. The drawing will be held

at Ensign on Feb. 16.

In the meantime, the Madrigals will practice for the performance in

the Big Apple.

The chorale group performs primarily the music of the 17th century

Renaissance period, but keeps a variety of songs in their musical

selection.

They are scheduled to sing seven pieces in New York, among them Franz

Schubert’s “Sing Forever,” a spiritual song called “Joshua Fit the Battle

of Jericho” and the Irish ballad “Danny Boy.”

FYI

Anyone interested in buying raffle tickets or helping the group to

meet its goal may call Kelsen at Ensign Intermediate School at (949)

515-6910.