Concerts To Rock Central Bucks For The Save The Music Foundation

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Tickets are now on sale for one of the biggest concerts of the year in the Central Bucks School District.

The 21st Annual Save the Music Concert will rock the Holicong Middle School for three shows over two days in late January with an extraordinary mix of local musical talent.

“You won’t experience anything like this in any other school district," said Holicong Band Director Joel Chodoroff, who is organizing the event with four other district music educators. "It has to be seen and heard to be believed.

"People who see it for the first time are often the first to buy tickets the next year," he continued. "It is a chance for the Central Bucks community to come together not only to enjoy the music and entertainment it’s a chance to help others in underfunded areas have an opportunity to get a quality music education.”

Themed “Elements of Music,” this year’s musical extravaganza will feature rock, jazz, showtune, and TV-themed medleys related to the elements of Earth, wind, fire, air, and water

“The lighting of this is insane. The sound is insane. It’s a full-blown rock concert," said Chodoroff. "We’re going to have an eight-person horn section, a four-person string section, a six-person rhythm section, and all of the lead vocals. That forms the basis for everything we do.”

Most of the show is presented by the Pros, a core group of more than 30 performers made up of mostly C.B. faculty and music teachers, but the event will also bring to the stage select student groups over the three concerts.

“This year we will also have a mixed high school vocal ensemble with kids from East, West, and South all coming together to sing in the concert," said Chodoroff. "And on Saturday afternoon we have an 80 to 100-member all-star elementary school choir who will perform and they’ll get to feel like rock stars.

“What’s nice is the bulk of the performing is done by the adults so the kids can sit and watch the concert and not feel like they have to work,” said Chodoroff.

The event opens on Friday, Jan. 26 with appearances by CB East Jazz and the mixed high school vocal ensemble. The event continues on Saturday, Jan. 27 with a 3 p.m. concert with the All-Star Elementary Choir and a 7:30 p.m. concert featuring the Holicong Strings and Holicong Jazz. In addition, the Holicong H-Factor and Tamanend Gold 'n' Blues will perform at all three shows.

Ninety percent of this year’s concert proceeds will benefit the Save the Music Foundation, a

national nonprofit that awards grants to school districts around the nation struggling to keep their music programs afloat. The balance of the proceeds will support instrument scholarships for Central Bucks families who have a financial need.

Since its first concert more than two decades ago, the event has raised $350,000 for the foundation, according to Chodoroff, who is especially proud of the fact that Central Bucks today is the largest single donor to the foundation with $50,000 raised annually from the concert.

“We are fortunate to be in a district that supports the arts," said Chodoroff. "And anything we can do to make that possible for other people is something we want to be a part of and support. What’s cool is the Save the Music Foundation, both last year and this year, agreed to earmark all of the money we raise for the School District of the City of Philadelphia.

"It’s super cool to know that money is literally staying home and helping a school district where there is a lot of need," he said. "The more music programs we can help establish there, the more successful students will have a chance to be.”

Chodoroff said when he organized the first concert more than two decades ago, it began as a way for educators to show students what could be achieved musically with hard work and practice.

"We decided that attaching a charity to the event would draw more community members. The Save The Music Foundation was a natural fit," said Chodoroff.

"I’ll never forget the first concert. We had a fairly decent concert. The first donation that we made was between $400 and $500," said Chodoroff. "As we have grown it has become a major concert event. We’re now donating in the ballpark of $50,000 a year. Our total to date is a tick under $358,000."

The concert is organized by a "brain trust" of five music educators including Joel Chodoroff (Holicong Band Director), Jim Glaser (Holicong Choir Director), Jennifer Repper (Holicong Orchestra Director), Amanda Romig (Holicong Special Education Teacher) and Ian Sanchez (Tamanend Choir Director).