Choir’s Auction Banks on Stardust

When the choir at Orange High School started writing letters to celebrities across the nation asking for help raising money for a trip to Europe, professional fund-raisers told them not to expect much.

At most, they predicted, 1% of the recipients would respond.

Within two weeks, the celebrities proved the experts wrong. The choir sent almost 3,000 personal letters to Princess Diana, Robert Redford, Stephen Sondheim and other superstars and immediately began getting items they could auction.

Prince Albert of Monaco sent an autographed T-shirt and photo.

“20/20” host Hugh Downs donated an autographed Giorgio Armani tie, and Elton John sent a score from “The Lion King.”

Playwright Dale Wasserman, who wrote “Man of La Mancha,” was especially generous. “He’s been sending all kinds of things,” said choir member Jonathan Terech, 15.

“It’s just amazing,” Tarra Loftus, 16, said. “I didn’t think we would get this much. I didn’t think they would really care.”

At last count, 120 items from celebrities and 180 from community residents and businesses had been donated for an auction to be held May 19 at the high school.

The proceeds will be used for the school’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers trip in July to perform at Westminster Abbey, Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame and other European venues.

The choir must raise $30,000 at the auction to reach its $143,000 goal.

Students and parents organizing the event said they have no idea how much such items, such as ballet slippers from the American Ballet Theatre might bring, especially because some among them say they are willing to pay plenty to keep some of donated items.

“I am going to have to bid on the Elton John score and the CD autographed by [composer] Danny Elfman,” said Lindsey Webb, 16. “Whatever it takes, it’s going to be mine.”

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