Photo Brian Goto

The Campolindo Orchestra, invited by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the International Fine Arts Institute to perform in Beijing, China, during Spring Break 2011, is getting an overwhelming response to their Rent-A-Student and other fundraiser activities.

The Rent-A-Student program, which was launched to help students who need scholarships and to earn money for the general trip fund, is running very successfully. Tessa Cunha, the student who coordinates it, is very busy matching students with job requests. "There are 21 students actively enrolled in the program right now. Requests range from babysitting to help with electronics such as i-pods and computers, but also housework and gardening are in demand. I also had requests for musicians to play at luncheons and even at a wedding", says Cunha.

Music Director Harvey Benstein is proud of his students. "These are exciting times in the music program at Campolindo as the students prepare to perform in Beijing in April," he says. "Throughout the school year the orchestra will build its tour repertoire. One of the pieces will be Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" in its original scoring and instrumentation."

The Campo Music Boosters is experiencing record high numbers of visitors to their website since the China trip was announced. "Our community is so supportive and everyone is very interested in what's going on with our China trip planning" says Sue Carlson, the Music Boosters Fundraising Chair for the trip. "Local businesses like Lamorinda Music show their support not only with financial contributions, Pizza Antica in Lafayette held a fundraiser night for us, Mountain Mike's Pizza helped us raise money with a coupon sale and Moraga Movers has hired a student string quartet for their Christmas luncheon.

Even some Campolindo teachers collected money to contribute to the trip fund. Campolindo High School Principal Carol Kitchens is very impressed with all the activities going on. "Students, parents, teachers and entire community are pulling together. This also shows how much pride we all take in our school. With so much support, I'm confident we will make this trip happen."

For more information about the orchestra's trip to China and upcoming events go to the website www.campomusic.org.