An enthusiastic crowd of more than 225 Orcas community members came to the OISD High School Gym on Sunday, March 1, for the 23rd annual Music Advocacy Group concert to benefit school music. March is celebrated as National Music In Our Schools Month, a fitting time for the MAG Concert. 100 musicians from the Orcas Choral Society, the Island Sinfonia and the Orcas Island Community Band, and more than 100 student musicians from the OISD Beginning Band, 7th-12th grade band, and 7th-12th grade strings performed for a very appreciative audience. MAG is humbled that these musical groups and many volunteers have been willing to contribute their talents and time to this performance.

The emcee, Anita Orne, shared historical notes and music-themed jokes. There was even a teddy bear-costumed conductor. OISD Superintendent Eric Webb and this year’s Community Speaker, Martin Lund, shared inspiring personal stories about their experiences as beginning school music students. Lund ended with a clarinet solo, drawing enthusiastic applause. The Ssudent speakers, Ewan Lister and Kai Ross, described their experiences in the Orcas School music program. The post-concert cookie reception was a sweet chance for the audience and the musicians to mingle.

The annual MAG concert is a joyous celebration of school music and the primary fundraiser which enables MAG to provide over half of the school music budget for the Orcas Island public schools. This year, in addition, the community’s generous support has also provided an excellent music library system as well as a set of Chromebook computers to enhance the students’ learning. In collaboration with the Orcas Choral Society, MAG is co-sponsoring the Orcas Youth Chorus for 6th-12th grade public, private and home-schooled students.

There is still time to contribute, either by mailing a check to “MAG” at P.O. Box 1171, Eastsound, WA 98245, or by donating online through our website to either the MAG general fund or to the Joyce Burghardt Fund for Excellence in Music, at OIMAG.org.

To the participating musical groups, volunteers, OISD administration and staff, and community supporters, once again, please accept the heartfelt thanks of the Music Advocacy Group for your extraordinary generosity and commitment to the importance of school music in our children’s lives. School music really does matter!

Miriam Ziegler

Music Advocacy Group