Celia Spitzer Urges Community to Help Send CHS Wind Symphony to London Olympics

In addition to being a former  parent and longtime ABC School Board Member, has been a strong supporter of CHS Music and Band programs over the years.

Earlier this year, Spitzer made a donation of $1,000 to the to help support the group's historic .  

"I've heard them them (Cerritos High Wind Symphony) many times,” she said. “ some of the things that they are going to be doing in London and Paris. I highly encourage people to support them in any way they can.”

“I think it's a great adventure that they're going on to represent our area – in particular – our school district,” she added.

Below is a copy of a letter from Spitzer to the community urging support of the CHS Wind Symphony.

What an opportunity and experience lie ahead for the student musicians of the Cerritos High School Wind Symphony! Imagine being asked to perform as part of the 2012 Olympics in London, England. That is exactly what (48) students will be doing this summer representing Cerritos High and the ABC School District.  But in order for them to go, we need to help them raise nearly $300,000 to cover all their expenses. Before I tell you how you can help, I would like to tell you about my long-time commitment to Cerritos High, beginning in 1982 when the first of my two children entered CHS.

First of all, I am so proud of the many programs and accomplishments of Cerritos High's graduates that have brought well-deserved recognition to the school.  In addition to its current instrumental music program, CHS is notable for other programs. My particular familiarity is with the Model United Nations program begun in the early 1980's. This program has grown tremendously, currently involving over 280 students, and has brought great recognition to Cerritos High participants.

Now about music. While Cerritos High has had a marching band for nearly 40 years, mainly to perform during football season, the instrumental music program entered a new realm in 2002 with the arrival of its current music director, Timothy Trost. Mr. Trost has expanded the band, developed the wind symphony, and also a chamber orchestra and a glee chorus.

The CHS Wind Symphony, formed in 2002, has received national recognition through its performances at Carnegie Hall in New York in 2005 and 2011 and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in 2008.  Now it is being recognized internationally by receiving an invitation to perform at the 2012 Olympics. The Wind Symphony has been invited to perform at the London 2012 Music Festival and at an Olympic venue. In addition, the students will perform at the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, France.

As a parent of two Cerritos High graduates, a community member who has been involved with ABC schools in one way or another for most of the past 37 years, and as a member of the ABC Board of Education since 1999, I am extremely proud of the talented students in the wind symphony. The opportunity for these musicians to perform internationally is a once-in-a-lifetime event few students ever are able to do. I am sure the experience will greatly enrich their lives and allow them to see new places and bring the artistic talents of southern California students to the ears, not only of the English, but of the entire world attending the Olympics.  How fantastic!

As I mentioned earlier, this trip comes with a significant price tag, about $300,000 for transportation, accommodations, and food for the musicians.  We need the help of the entire ABC community and its relatives and friends to fund this extraordinary adventure.  If each person living in the ABC district donated $3, the goal would be met.  However, this is not realistic.  What we hope is that a very large number of residents and friends will donate whatever they can, $10, $25 or $100.  We also look forward to significant business sponsorships from local as well as farther-away companies.  A contribution is an investment in the future of each of the students, the renown of our school district, and the connection and understanding between people from around the world.

Please help to the best of your ability so that you can share the pride that the Cerritos High Wind Symphony does and will continue to bring to our school district and the communities it serves and so that you will be able to take part of the credit for getting our students to London.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Celia Spitzer
Vice President, ABC School Board

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Donor and Sponsorship Opportunities to Support the CHS Wind Symphony Still Available

Community members and local businesses are encouraged to donate funds toward this historic trip. Donor and sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Fundraising Coordinator Leslie J. Machado at (562) 577-1802 or via email at lesliejmachado@gmail.com.

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