By Amy Fendley The Whistler Secondary Band is in high gear. It’s their first year and the 32-piece band is fund raising for a trip to Los Angeles. The purpose of the trip is to expose young musicians to some of the best musical talent in the world by participating in a music clinic at the University of Southern California. There will also be a workshop with Disneyland’s Magic Music Days program. The trip is scheduled for March and will encompass four days. "This is our first year," says Heather Leung, the band’s director. "Hopefully we’re starting something the kids, can build on. This trip will be an educational benefit for them." Disneyland is also offering a separate choir clinic, which the Whistler Children’s Chorus will be attending. The two trips are independent of each other. In order to take part in the clinic the band students, the majority of them in Grade 10, will be participating in various fund-raising events over the next couple of months. Students have been manning coat checks, selling raffle tickets and having bake and book sales. The most ambitious of the fund-raising programs will be acting as Ski Valets for the mountains. Under the mountains’ direction, students will be valets for the week following Christmas, beginning Dec. 26. They will assist visitors with their equipment, directions, and provide information on Whistler. The goal is to raise $2,000. Three raffle packages have also been put together. They include a one week trip to Mexico, four days of golf and three nights accommodation in Whistler, and a prize package featuring a pair of super G skis used by Steve Podborski.
