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Band dinner features music and meatballs
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Members of the Canfield High School Symphonic Band performed to a packed house at the Canfield Band Parent's annual Pasta Dinner and Chinese auction Feb. 25.
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Members of the Canfield High School band, including, left to right, freshman Ryan Jones, freshman Jeffery Williams, freshman Natalie Schoenfeld, freshman Grant Gullia and senior Sean Meditz, performed at the band 's annual dinner and auction..
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Members of the fifth-grade band, left to right, Clare Crescimanno, Fiona Lally and Nicole Joseph, checked out the Chinese auction before performing at the band's annual pasta dinner Feb. 25.
By ABBY SLANKER
Attendees of the Canfield Band Parents annual Pasta Dinner and Chinese auction not only enjoyed a hearty pasta meal on a cold, windy winter day, they were also treated to the musical talents of the Canfield schools bands.
The 42nd annual dinner was co-chaired by Dan and Danielle Kapalko and was held at the Canfield High School cafeteria Feb. 25.
Eight bands, including the fifth- and sixth-grade bands, the seventh- and eighth-grade bands and several high school bands, performed throughout the day during the Canfield bands’ biggest fundraiser of the year. The money raised goes back into the band program to provide such things as sheet music, instruments and uniforms.
According to Bob Ward, public relations chair, the dinner serves an average of 1,500 to 1,800 people.
“We have about 200 to 220 parent volunteers for this fundraiser. It takes about six to eight months of planning. Everything we do as band parents is always about the kids,” Ward said.
Members of the bands volunteered during the dinner, from bussing tables to helping in the kitchen, to preparing take-out orders. Members of the Canfield Band Parents were busy in the kitchen preparing the dinner, which included pasta, meatballs and sausage, salad, bread, beverage and dessert.
Donations from the community helped with the dinner and several local businesses, such as Boak and Sons, Operation Keepsake, Drake’s Landing Banquet Center and Mink Financial Services, purchased ad space on the place mats, which helped underwrite the costs of the dinner.
“This is a community-wide event. It’s been a tradition for 42 years. We are grateful for the community’s support of the bands all year round through our different events. Canfield has a very strong musical heritage through our schools. Of all the school districts, Canfield has one of the strongest music programs in the state – always has. That could not happen without the band parents and community support,” Ward said.
The Chinese auction, co-chaired by Dante and Jacque DeAngelo, offered 112 baskets. A sample of items up for auction included four Cleveland Indians tickets, four Scrappers tickets to two games and an autographed Troy Polamalu photo donated by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Local donors to the Chinese auction included DeAngelo Orthodontics, Cornersburg and Austintown Dairy Queen, Advanced Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center, Music Gallery, Motter’s Music, J.D. Eicher and the Good Nights and several individuals and families. Several of the Canfield bands also donated baskets to the auction.
“I send out a letter requesting donations at the beginning of the year and it doesn’t take long for the items to come in. We always get a great response and we really appreciate the support,” Jacque DeAngelo said.
The Canfield Band Parents also held a 50/50 raffle during the event and were selling Canfield Band and Canfield Cardinal spirit wear, including T-shirts and sweatshirts. The flower centerpieces were also available for purchase.