Behind every orchestra concert, marching band performance and jazz competition, there’s a long list of expenses that the musical program has to cover. These prices can grow quite large, creating the need for fundraisers.
From car washes to barbecues, the music program has held a variety of fundraisers throughout the year, and according to head of the music department and music/band teacher Nick Gaydos, they’ve been quite effective.
“[This year’s fundraisers have] been pretty successful,” Gaydos said. “I’m happy that we’re mostly on track with where we need to be for fundraising.”
Throughout the various fundraisers, one has stood out, making several thousand dollars.
“Our most successful fundraiser this year has been our cookie dough sales,” Gaydos said. “We sold 565 boxes … and the donation amount that came back to us was 40% of each box that we sold, so that brought in a lot.”
With how much support these fundraisers have gathered, it’s worth knowing where these funds actually go.
“All the money goes into the music boosters, and then is spread across all the classes, like orchestra, jazz, marching, and that’ll go to repairing uniforms and instruments,” senior music student Dominic Dayeh said. “It also helps pay for new music and all the competitions.”
These fundraisers aren’t just for novelty expenses; the music program as a whole depends on them.
“[The music program would] definitely not [be possible without them],” Gaydos said. “The school only gives me somewhere between two and four thousand dollars a year, and that goes very fast.”
The funds are crucial for maintaining the quality of the music program. However, they do more than just routine upkeep.
“Last year we had our Disney trip where we went to SoCal for the weekend,” Dayeh said. “That one was a pretty big trip, and we had a lot of help from the boosters … That definitely wouldn’t have been possible without the boosters’ help.”
This support is especially important, given the unique nature of the program.
“It’s a unique thing that not a lot of schools have,” Dayeh said. “We’re doing things that not a lot of schools can, and we’re doing it with quite a small program … so I think that’s very special.”
The music program has a great impact on the students of Woodside, and the fundraising support is what makes all the difference.
“I think you should support the music program because it provides all of our music students with a great music education,” Gaydos said. “It gives them more opportunities to have gigs, concerts, performances, competitions, and have just a well-run program.”
