Music begets music

Members of the nonprofit Encampment-Riverside Community Choir were at Encampment K-12 School Thursday to present the school a check for $1,272 to support the school's music program.

The community choir, a volunteer organization, raised the money to ensure Encampment school's music program continues to be funded during the severe budget cuts imposed by the state, and to ensure the town maintains its reputation for community sponsored music, said Lynn Finney, the director of the community choir.

Members of the community choir raised the money to benefit the school's music program.

According to the school, the money will be used for band curriculum, a music stand holder and instrument repairs, which were the items the school's music teacher thought would be most useful to the program.

The choir regularly donates to the school music program, Finney said. In the past, the group has contributed to the music program to allow student musicians to travel overseas and take advantage of other special opportunities.

Music students Kayla Wagy and Nina Jackson were on hand along with Encampment K-12 school principal Michael Erickson to accept the choir's donation. The students were just as thankful for the choir's donation as Erickson was.

"(Music is) a great thing to bring your family and friends to," Jackson said. Wagy, who has been in music since fifth grade, added the music program is very important to her and she appreciated the support of the community choir.

Both students performed with the community choir for its Christmas concert in December.

"We try to give back to the community." Finney said. "We just try to keep the music going."