'Dessert and Jazz' to Benefit School Arts Programs

The Madison Music Association is scheduled to present “Once in a Blue Moon,” its 2013 dessert and jazz fundraiser, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Madison High School, 170 Ridgedale Ave.

The event features student musicians and homemade desserts.

“This event is all about the students—student performers, student servers, and the jazz ensembles providing a great evening and raising money for all the arts programs in district," Madison Music Association President Helen Raymaker said in a news release announcing the event. "We are very thankful for the community support this event enjoys each year.”

The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with dessert and beverages in the high school cafeteria. Student musicians from the high school will provide entertainment.

Following dessert, the festivities continue in the auditorium with a jazz concert featuring the Madison High School and Madison Junior School jazz ensembles. A variety of musical selections, including jazz classics, will be performed.

“It’s a great night of tasty desserts and even tastier music!" Russ Batsch, director of bands at Madison High School, said.

Dessert and Jazz is a major fundraiser for the Madison Music Association. Other MMA fundraising efforts include a Florida Fruit Sale and The Arts Matter Concert. The fundraisers benefit the music, arts and theater programs throughout the Madison school district at all grade levels. In the past, donations have included the purchase of instruments and equipment, the subsidy of the musical ensemble travel expenses and the supervision of the Summer Music Program. Recent contributions by the MMA include:

• Music Stands with Storage Rack
• Barre for dance classes
• Choral Risers
• Keyboards
• Marimba
• Orff Instruments
• Stage Risers
• Art Supplies
• Ukeleles
• Guest Artists
• Musical Instruments and their maintenance
• iPod Stereos

And most recently, through a partnership with the Madison Education Foundation, the association purchased band shells for the high school. The shells will dramatically improve the acoustics in the auditorium. Also through that partnership, and with the help of the PTOs of Central Avenue, Kings Road and Torey J Sabatini schools, the association purchased youth posture chairs for all three elementary schools in the district.

Tickets are $15 per person for the entire evening of entertainment. Reservations are strongly recommended as this event has a history of selling out. To make reservations e-mail reply2mma@gmail.com. For more information call Nina at 973-822-0997. Payment in the form of cash or check (payable to MMA) is accepted. The MMA is a 501(c)(3) organization and is online at madisonpublicschools.org/mma and on Facebook.