Music contributing to society- Bravo to Emporia H.S.

I happened across a mention of a performance of my fun "Mashed Potato Love Song" recently.

The Emporia(KS) Gazette ran this info last week:

Emporia High School Choral Department will present its annual fall concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the high school auditorium. More than 200 singers will be featured, representing five choirs from EHS, who are accompanied by Melinda Groves. The concert will use the theme, “If Music Be the Food of Love….Sing on!”

“All of the literature that will be performed on this concert pertains to the food theme,” said Sheree Stoppel, director of the choirs. “You will hear a variety of styles and time periods. We are asking the public to make a special donation at this concert in the form of canned or boxed foods for the Abundant Harvest Food Bank, instead of an admission fee. Boxes will be placed outside the auditorium doors for the donations.

“We are hoping the Emporia community will come and hear a wonderful concert and help support the food bank at the same time.”


I was compelled to contact Ms. Stoppel to congratulate her on the concert's goals, and asked her to e-mail back an update on the results.

Here is her response, and its truly great to see how much food they collected:

"The concert last night went well. Since I have a little over 200 singers, we filled the auditorium with family and friends. At last count, we had 449 food items donated! And Mashed Potatoes was a hit! The chuckles at the end of the song told us we'd carried it off. :) Also, the ensemble singers threw a little party today in rehearsal and one girl brought enough mashed potatoes for everyone to enjoy. With a little pool of butter, of course!"

Sheree and I are now FaceBook friends and I hope to meet her in person some day. Wouldn't it be "wunnerful" if every choir across the country did something like this AT LEAST once a year?

Bravo to Sheree Stoppel and all the Emporia High School students, their families, and their generous audience!