Due to low ticket sales (we're not projected to meet our minimum) the Smart Car Opportunity drawing has been cancelled. Letters will be going out next week to those who generously participated in our contest.
Participants have the option of continuing to support the programs by turning their ticket money into a seat at our upcoming Music from the Heart Benefit Gala (includes dinner and entertainment by the Minnesingers and Madrigal Singers, ) at the Sofitel on February 17th, or to be a valued supporter of our arts program by leaving the funds with the program (fully tax deductible of course,) or requesting a complete or partial refund.
Your enthusiasm and support is appreciated.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Monday, December 22, 2008
Smart Sunday...
We had a fabulous turn out at Sunday, December 21st's Farmer's Market in Beverly Hills. Ticket sales were brisk (as was the weather) and the day was bright.
We had representatives from both the Minnesingers and Madrigal Singers; here, we can see that the back of the car can hold both a soprano and a bass (with room for an alto in between!)
The groups of kids performed some mighty fine Noels up and down Civic Center Drive, driving people down to our booth for an informative chat.
The littlest opportunist of the day behind the wheel, hoping that daddy is the lucky winner!
The littlest opportunist of the day behind the wheel, hoping that daddy is the lucky winner!
.
We'll be back at the Beverly Hills Farmer's Market in January with Smart Opportunity Golden Tickets for sale...check back here for upcoming dates!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Smart Article
Beverly High Madrigals And Minnesingers Raffle Car Donated By SmartCenter At Farmer’s MarketBy Abbey Hood
Not dressed in their usual polished dresses, members of the Beverly High Minnesingers—the school’s elite female choral ensemble, were not at the Farmer’s Market to sing. They left that duty to the young guy with the guitar under the tent. Instead the students were laughing and smiling in the trunk of a smart fortwo car, waving hello to the groves of people walking by, asking them to take a peek inside.
The four Minnesingers at the market on Sunday were there to sell raffle tickets to give away the
Smart Car that had been donated by SmartCenter Beverly Hills of Mercedes-Benz Beverly Hills.
“In the first 15 minutes we sold three tickets,” said Suzi Finer, parent of Madrigal and 10th grader Ben Finer.
The tickets sell for $100 each. All proceeds go to benefit the Minnesingers and the high school’s
well-known and well-loved Madrigals. The Madrigal Singers started at Beverly High in 1961 under the direction of Robert Holmes. In 1975 his student, Joel Pressman, took over. There are 33 students in the program. Alumni include Mayor Barry Brucker, who gets up during the annual winter concert to sing Still Still Still with former Madrigals. This year’s concert is Dec. 17.
The youth, ranging from grades 10 through 12, have traveled from Acapulco, Mexico, to Cannes, France. Last year they won the Gold Medal at the Festival of Gold in San Francisco, singing at Davey Hall, said Pressman.
“They were the first group not from New Zealand to participate in the national choir singers in
New Zealand,” he said. The Madrigals and 38 Minnesingers perform throughout Beverly Hills at service clubs, charity dinners, recently at Tuesday’s school board installation. Over the weekend, the Madrigals performed for Cardinal Mahoney, that’s why only a few members of the Minnesingers were able to attend Sunday’s raffle sale. In the spring, Pressman said he will take the students to a music festival. The destination, although not confirmed, could be Boston, New York, Hawaii or in Northern California. Students practice four times a week in a traditional classroom, and spends an afternoon after school practicing. In the fall they attend a weekend in Idyllwild to get to know each other and practice.
The four Minnesingers at the market on Sunday were there to sell raffle tickets to give away the
Smart Car that had been donated by SmartCenter Beverly Hills of Mercedes-Benz Beverly Hills.
“In the first 15 minutes we sold three tickets,” said Suzi Finer, parent of Madrigal and 10th grader Ben Finer.
The tickets sell for $100 each. All proceeds go to benefit the Minnesingers and the high school’s
well-known and well-loved Madrigals. The Madrigal Singers started at Beverly High in 1961 under the direction of Robert Holmes. In 1975 his student, Joel Pressman, took over. There are 33 students in the program. Alumni include Mayor Barry Brucker, who gets up during the annual winter concert to sing Still Still Still with former Madrigals. This year’s concert is Dec. 17.
The youth, ranging from grades 10 through 12, have traveled from Acapulco, Mexico, to Cannes, France. Last year they won the Gold Medal at the Festival of Gold in San Francisco, singing at Davey Hall, said Pressman.
“They were the first group not from New Zealand to participate in the national choir singers in
New Zealand,” he said. The Madrigals and 38 Minnesingers perform throughout Beverly Hills at service clubs, charity dinners, recently at Tuesday’s school board installation. Over the weekend, the Madrigals performed for Cardinal Mahoney, that’s why only a few members of the Minnesingers were able to attend Sunday’s raffle sale. In the spring, Pressman said he will take the students to a music festival. The destination, although not confirmed, could be Boston, New York, Hawaii or in Northern California. Students practice four times a week in a traditional classroom, and spends an afternoon after school practicing. In the fall they attend a weekend in Idyllwild to get to know each other and practice.
“The reason we are living in Beverly Hills is so my son can be a part of the Madrigals,” said Finer. “He is getting such a good foundation, and good exposure to be professional and responsible.”
Pressman said he stresses community involvement to his students.
“I am so proud of my kids,” he said. “They are active throughout the school. I have varsity letterman, writers from Highlights, students on the robotics team.” “I am proud of the fact that
the community says what a wonderful, warm, friendly, bright group of students they are,” he
says.
Finer said Pressman is teaching her son more than just music. “He is teaching him to be independent,” she said. Finer’s son Ben, a third generation Beverly High student, started his musical career when he enrolled in A Taste of Broadway— a musical theater group started by Madrigal alumna Jenny Gordon.
Many people, like Gordon, graduated from Pressman’s choir and continued their musical career. His former students perform in Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and other classics. Nicholas Cage performed in the Madrigals.
Cage performed in the high school’s play alongside Jon Turtletaub, who would later direct Cage in National Treasure Book of Secrets, said Pressman. They also shared the high school’s stage with Lenny Kravitz. At the time he was a Minnesinger, when the group was co-ed.
The Beverly High Madrigals and Minnesingers will be back at the Farmer’s Market to sell more
raffle tickets on Dec. 21. They have sold a total of 13 tickets their first day at the market on
Sunday, said Finer.
Pressman said he stresses community involvement to his students.
“I am so proud of my kids,” he said. “They are active throughout the school. I have varsity letterman, writers from Highlights, students on the robotics team.” “I am proud of the fact that
the community says what a wonderful, warm, friendly, bright group of students they are,” he
says.
Finer said Pressman is teaching her son more than just music. “He is teaching him to be independent,” she said. Finer’s son Ben, a third generation Beverly High student, started his musical career when he enrolled in A Taste of Broadway— a musical theater group started by Madrigal alumna Jenny Gordon.
Many people, like Gordon, graduated from Pressman’s choir and continued their musical career. His former students perform in Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and other classics. Nicholas Cage performed in the Madrigals.
Cage performed in the high school’s play alongside Jon Turtletaub, who would later direct Cage in National Treasure Book of Secrets, said Pressman. They also shared the high school’s stage with Lenny Kravitz. At the time he was a Minnesinger, when the group was co-ed.
The Beverly High Madrigals and Minnesingers will be back at the Farmer’s Market to sell more
raffle tickets on Dec. 21. They have sold a total of 13 tickets their first day at the market on
Sunday, said Finer.
The Smart Car center is located at Mercedes-Benz Beverly Hills. The car, although small insize, has a high safety rating. Roughly 600 cars have been sold since they came out in the U.S. last January, said Vinnie Mandzak of Smart Center. There is a year wait list for the vehicle that gets 33 mpg in the City, 43 on the freeway. The average retail price starts at around $12,590.
Donating the car to Beverly High is one of many contributions
Mercedes-Benz Beverly Hills has made to the community. “It is part of the culture of Mercedes- Benz of Beverly Hills and SmartCenter Beverly Hills,” said Mandzak. “We get supported by the community, so we want to give back to the community.”
To test drive a car or for more
information, call 310-248-4219.
Donating the car to Beverly High is one of many contributions
Mercedes-Benz Beverly Hills has made to the community. “It is part of the culture of Mercedes- Benz of Beverly Hills and SmartCenter Beverly Hills,” said Mandzak. “We get supported by the community, so we want to give back to the community.”
To test drive a car or for more
information, call 310-248-4219.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Smart Car at the Farmer's Market
Wow...what a great morning!
.
We had four of our fabulous Minnesingers on hand at the Beverly Hills Farmer's Market today, singing INSIDE the shiny new Smart Car that was on display at our sales booth.
The community was very supportive, buying up thirteen Golden Opportunity tickets, with many others getting our information to send in for their own tickets. One sweet lady bought two tickets as holiday gifts for her niece & nephew. What a good idea!
.
The Beverly Hills Courier sent over their roving reporter, Miss Abby, who photographed, interviewed, and appreciate our efforts...we will be on the cover of the next edition (Wednesday, December 10th~!)
.
Want a ticket for yourself? Just shoot an email to suzifiner@gmail.com
.
We had four of our fabulous Minnesingers on hand at the Beverly Hills Farmer's Market today, singing INSIDE the shiny new Smart Car that was on display at our sales booth.
The community was very supportive, buying up thirteen Golden Opportunity tickets, with many others getting our information to send in for their own tickets. One sweet lady bought two tickets as holiday gifts for her niece & nephew. What a good idea!
.
The Beverly Hills Courier sent over their roving reporter, Miss Abby, who photographed, interviewed, and appreciate our efforts...we will be on the cover of the next edition (Wednesday, December 10th~!)
.
Want a ticket for yourself? Just shoot an email to suzifiner@gmail.com
Monday, October 6, 2008
Are You Ready?
Now we have the tickets in hand, and are ready to sell them, here are some pertinent details.
.
Our goal is to sell close to 300 tickets, with a baseline of 180 tickets for the minimum.
If for some crazy reason we do not make our minimum sales, all of the money that we've collected will be returned to the ticket buyers (unless of course they want to keep the money within the program...total tax deduction!)
.
Here's another bit of info: you must be eighteen to be able to participate in the drawing. Your parents or guardians are obviously over eighteen, so just let them get a ticket for you and deal with the prize after that number is drawn!
.
Hey, you don't need to be present at the drawing to win! Although we hope that you would like to be a part of the Music from the Heart event (taking place on Tuesday night, February 17th at the Sofitel on Beverly Blvd. across from the Beverly Center,) we understand that you may have other plans, and should your ticket be drawn, we will make sure that our entire world knows that you are the winner.
.
Another bit for your brain: if you do win, you can take advantage of a few options.
.
A) You may keep the fabulous Smart Car and just take care of the tax and license fees.
B) You may donate the car to the Music program.
C) You may donate the cash value of the car to the Music program.
D) You may keep the cash value of the car and put it in the bank.
.
Regardless of the option you go with, you will be presented with the appropriate tax form so you can claim the winnings as a prize on your 2009 tax return.
It's that whole death & taxes concept. Whatever.
.
We are not able to process credit/debit cards at this time; all tickets must be paid with either a check or cash.
If you do want to get a ticket via mail, shoot an email to:
Do include your name, address, phone number and email address with which you'd like to communicate. Suzi will arrange to collect the donation and get the Golden Ticket to you.
Easy schmeezy.
Easy schmeezy.
.
Any questions? Either shoot over an email or use the comment segment here. Good times.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
A Golden Ticket...
...for a Golden Opportunity!.
The Beverly Hills High School Madrigals and Minnesingers are now selling a limited amount of Golden Opportunity Tickets for a drawing to be held on Tuesday, February 17th at our Music from the Heart event!
.
The prize? A brand-spanking new Smart Car!
(blah blah blah...write more later)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)