U-Hi choir gets boost in funding

Nearly everything was ready in Russell Seaton’s University High School choir room last week when several businessmen, parents, the principal and district Superintendent Mike Pearson marched in to announce a $17,000 contribution to the choir program.

Everything but Russell Seaton.

“I was on the road when it happened,” said Seaton, who was attending the Washington Musical Educators Association conference.

Seaton knew something was up when he received messages on his cell phone from a student and the assistant principal. “I called one of my seniors and asked if something was going on I needed to know about,” Seaton said. The student broke the news with the crowd standing by. “I’m a little in shock still,” he said.

The mix of funds came from more than 80 students volunteering their time to wrap gifts at several Spokane Valley stores during Christmas. The donations they collected were matched by Intermountain Community Bank, plus parents Al Aneiro and Katherine Hoot added to the total. Seaton said he knew about the fundraiser, but had no idea the total would be so large. “I didn’t know about the matching.”

Seaton has about 215 students participating in seven choirs. He plans to use part of the money to purchase sheet music. Each copy of every song costs $2. “It gets kind of expensive. People don’t know that it costs a lot of money to run a music program.”

The scholarship fund that helps pay student travel costs will also get a boost. The choirs go on several trips a year to perform or to study with professional conductors. Normally each student is responsible for their own travel costs, but some can’t afford it.

Seaton said he plans to meet with his parent booster club to discuss other options for the money.