'Huge turnout' benefits choir's upcoming trip to Idaho
Nicholas Silbermann sings during a dinner and auction benefitting the Libby Children’s Select Choir Friday evening at Libby Elementary School. (John Blodgett/The Western News)
Matilda Newton, left, and Aritchmae Pineda follow Choir Director Lorraine Braun’s direction during a dinner and auction benefitting the Libby Children’s Select Choir Friday evening at Libby Elementary School. (John Blodgett/The Western News)
The Libby Children’s Select Choir dons sunglasses for a performance of “Hitsville USA” at Libby Elementary School Friday evening. The choir was holding a fundraising dinner and auction for an upcoming competition in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. (John Blodgett/The Western News)
The Libby Children’s Select Choir raised about $4,300 at a dinner and auction held Friday night to benefit its upcoming trip to a competition in Idaho.
Part of Music in the Parks Festivals, the event will be held May 9 in Coeur d’Alene.
Choir director Lorraine Braun said the turnout to Friday’s fundraiser, held at Libby Elementary School, was bigger than expected.
“I was sweetly surprised,” she said via email. “We have never had such a huge turnout.”
The Choir performed the five songs — Hitsville USA, Be a Star, For Good, It’s American as Rock n Roll, and Dynamite — Braun said they hope to fit into their 20-minute performance at the festival.
Bill Colson and his daughter Ali Lucas provided and cooked the food served at the fundraiser, which temporarily ran out due to the high turnout, Braun wrote.
“Bill Colson went to Rosauers and bought fried chicken and salad to feed the remaining 50 in line,” she wrote. “The people in line were very understanding and supportive. I couldn’t have asked for a better reaction.”
Braun said she and the Choir are grateful for the community’s generosity.
“Please know that everything — money, auction items, time — is hugely appreciated,” she wrote.
Braun said the Choir will represent Libby “very well, with good sportsmanship, integrity, camaraderie and awesome musical skills that usually earn them high honors at the awards ceremony.”
Contributions are still being accepted, Braun wrote, and can be mailed to her at 1203 Louisiana Ave., Libby, MT, 59923.