The Spartan Vocal Boosters are raising their voices about the high school’s need for a piano.
They’re also raising funds – the new group formed to support the Bainbridge High School’s choral program is holding a benefit on Nov. 20 to help purchase an instrument.
“I really appreciate the work the Boosters are doing,” said choral director Rick Vandenhole. “They’ve really come forward to help us to fulfill this basic need.”
Before Vandenhole took the reins, the vocal program had a history of piano mishaps. A grand piano the school owned about five years ago “tripped” while being wheeled off the stage, sending the instrument crashing to the floor.
Repairs were made, but after a second leg snapped, the piano vanished.
“That piano somehow mysteriously disappeared,” Vandenhole said. “I heard a dealer took it off to repair it and it didn’t come back.”
The theater department then purchased a Yamaha upright that Vandenhole calls a “pretty decent piano” for about $5,000.
But the choral director, in his first year teaching at BHS, didn’t realize the piano was theater department property until director Bob McAllister pointed it out.
“He sat me down one day and said, ‘hey, it’s ours,’” Vandenhole said. “Then it disappeared for a month during the theater department’s musical production last spring. I have a feeling it’s probably going to disappear again this spring.”
With the Yamaha gone, the vocal students were left with a battered, out-of-tune Kimball upright that’s missing some keys.
Moving the old upright into the choir room left both practice rooms without an instrument.
The Spartan Vocal Boosters hope to fill the gap with a new upright – the appropriate piano for the current quarters.
“The 100 Building may be replaced at some future point,” Vandenhole said, “but for now, the facility won’t support a really nice grand piano (that might) crash to the floor while we’re wheeling it in and out.”
A piano shortfall could become more of a problem as the BHS vocal program expands, Vandenhole points out.
“Here on the island, there’s so much potential and talent for a strong vocal program,” he said. “And as the program grows, so does the need for equipment.”
Vandenhole is the first vocal teacher to fill a full-time slot at BHS, coming from a decade teaching music at North Kitsap High School to take the job last year.
Currently, the vocal program serves about 55 students in four choral groups:
Concert choir, primarily made up of freshmen; the treble all-girls’ choir, an intermediate singing group; an auditioned jazz choir; and the chamber choir that Vandenhole formed last year, which performs a wide variety of the classical music Vandenhole says is his personal favorite.
The choral director says he likes working with teens – and one reason is his own vocal training began in high school.
“I didn’t consider myself a musician, but I took a chance and auditioned for a musical,” he said. “What I discovered was that even without an instrument, I could make music.”
While Vandenhole currently sees the 55 students three times a week and there are 25 students in the freshman chorus, he has a bigger vision of the program’s future.
“I would love to have a sort of ‘y’all come’ large chorus of about 75 to 100. It should be a huge choir from which the others are drawn,” he said.
“I think not everyone is going to excel,” Vandenhole said, “but we can all learn to sing and experience that joy of making music.”
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The Spartan Vocal Boosters presents the first annual Winter Gala, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in the high school commons.
Proceeds go to purchase a piano for BHS choral programs. Enjoy lively music performed by BHS vocal students, a dessert reception, and a silent auction. Cost: $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors (62 and over).
You can also help purchase the piano by donating designated coupons at Safeway.
Information: 276-6948.
