Community: Carroll’s Corral is an entertaining learning experience
I don’t know if it’s the western music, beautiful voices, spicy chili or the fried pickles, but stirred together they make a great combination at Carroll’s Corral.
It’s the first choir performance of the school year for the Burbank High School Vocal Music Assn.
I spent the first five minutes trying to sit down in my seat. I think I broke the record for saying “excuse me.” The show is staged in the lunch shelter. Moms, dads, aunts and uncles are squeezed into tables and chairs on one side and risers for the singers are set up on the other.
There was almost enough room for me at the end of the table, there just wasn’t any place for my camera bag.
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The organized chaos was actually invigorating and fun. Once diners were seated, groups of choir students converged on their assigned tables to take our orders of meat or vegetarian chili, green salad, cornbread and lemonade, water or soft drink.
Senior Emily Mintz-Kreyns gladly became reporter pro tem and jotted down her fellow servers’ names for me. No way was I getting out of my chair again.
Covering our table were junior Angelica Janikian, sophomore Christopher Aguirre and freshmen Robby Cranston and Katia Sismondi. They did an excellent job.
When not serving, choir students — dressed in plaid shirts and aprons — performed selections from classic western musicals.
A tradition for several years, the fundraiser allows students to interact with adults and serve people, said choir director Brett Carroll.
“It’s a good learning opportunity for us because we have been doing some of the pieces every year, which is great because the older kids can help mentor the younger kids, and it makes it very exciting for the new kids to get to instantly make relationships with the older kids, which is awesome,” he said.
The choirs performing were In Sync advanced mixed choir, Out of the Blue intermediate mixed choir, Impressions advanced women’s choir, Sound Dogs advanced men’s choir and a cappella groups the Sirens women’s choir and Gentlemen’s Octet.
Connor Thompson, 17, a senior, has been in the choir for all four of his years at Burbank High School and all three years at Muir Middle School.
The most important thing he has learned in choir is how to sing properly, he said. Also traveling to competitions has taught him the importance of making a positive first impression through good behavior and showing humility.
A bonus is singing with people who love what they are doing, Connor said.
“The energy bounces back and forth from the other choir students,” he said.
Proceeds from the evening pay for bus transportation to competitions, choreographers, costumes, sets and scholarships for students whose families can’t afford the costs to participate.
About 25% of the 150 choir students in the program receive financial assistance, said Will Woods, president of the Vocal Music Assn.
“The cost to participate is quite significant because the choirs compete on a national level in the most prestigious competitions,” he said. “To compete at that level, we need to have choreographers, costuming, set design, musicians and musical arrangements. Those are the things that drive all our costs.”
Earlier this year, the association held a walkathon, and a major fundraiser called A Night of Magic is scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Pickwick Banquet Center. Tickets are $80 and include dinner, entertainment by the choirs, silent and live auctions and opportunity prizes.
For reservations, donations or sponsorship advertising, go to BHSVocal.com or call (818) 415-0477.
Coordinating Council has first fundraising luncheon
The Burbank Coordinating Council has planned its first Spirit of Giving luncheon, beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 4 at the First Presbyterian Church.
The cost is $50 to celebrate the contributions of Councilwoman Emily Gabel-Luddy and the Burbank Fire Department, said Janet Diel, the organization’s president.
Proceeds go to provide holiday baskets for 550 needy families this December, and that translates to more than 2,600 people, Diel added.
Sponsorship levels are Spirit of Hope at $250, Spirit of Kindness at $500 and Spirit of Love at $1,000, which also include tickets and one’s name posted on Facebook, the organization’s website and in the program. Those interested can pay with check, cash or by PayPal on the website burbankcoordinatingcouncil.org.
Civic Pride seeks those possessed by Halloween spirit
Burbank Civic Pride Committee is accepting applications for those interested in competing in the second annual Halloween Decorating Contest for businesses and residences.
Application deadline is Oct. 25, and judging will be from dusk to 11:30 p.m. Oct. 27. For an application, go to burbankca.gov.
Historical society conjures up haunting program
The Burbank Historical Society is welcoming back film collector Galen Wilkes as part of its Ghosts & Goblins Spooktacular Halloween program from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the museum, next to the Creative Arts Center, 1100 W. Clark Ave.
Included in the program will be films from the 1890s by Georges Melies — an innovator in early special effects — a silent Felix the Cat cartoon, scenes from the silent horror film “Nosferatu,” a sing-along, a Technicolor cartoon called “Bottles,” a silent comedy version of “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” called “Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pride” (1925) and more. The presentation is all Halloween related, Wilkes added.
The Cunningham Room has been transformed into the Ghoul Time Theatre with scary decorations. It’s the perfect backdrop for Wilkes’ program.
For more information, visit burbankhistoricalsoc.com.
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JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.