NAfME fundraises money for music education during holiday season

Lauren Ganger, Arts & Entertainment editor

On Dec. 7 at 7 pm in D’Angelo Room 19, the Mercyhurst chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) will be hosting a Christmas party and fundraiser that is open to all students on campus. Students from all majors can attend for $5, which includes the cost of admission, a snack, a nonalcoholic beverage and a ticket for a raffle. Four prizes will be raffled off during the evening.

The party will be an open house format, so students are encouraged to stop in and have a fun time, but are not obligated to stay the entire time.

The money that the club raises will help them fund their trip to the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) conference in Poconos, PA, in April, and it will also help them fund other events that will take place during the spring semester. The party will also have live music performed by current Music majors and friends, including Reid Burton, freshman Music Therapy major, CC Smith, freshman Music Education major and the jazz combo DTS.

The music that has been programmed will be a mixture of holiday favorites and nonseasonal music. NAfME is an organization that helps Music Education majors nationwide prepare for teaching, through workshops and lectures by music educators, both current and retired.

The Mercyhurst chapter of NAfME is instrumental in helping to run the Tri-State Music Festival, a three day event during the winter that brings high school musicians to the Mercyhurst campus for workshops and rehearsals, culminating in a performance by the Honors Band in the Performing Arts Center.

Lauren Tucci senior, Music Education major is the president of Mercyhurst’s chapter of NAfME, and in addition to her duties organizing and overseeing meetings, she has worked hard with the other officers to plan this Christmas party. The other officers who helped organize this event are vice president Morgan Dowches junior, Music Education, secretary Emily Zbrzezny, senior, Music Education and treasurer Rachel Kinlan, senior, Music Education. This event promises to be an evening of camaraderie and musical fun.

Tucci says that students should come “to support NAfME, hang out with some friends and hear some awesome music.” By Lauren Ganger Arts & Entertainment editor FOLLOW THE MERCIAD ON FACEBOOK AT @THEMERCIA