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Concert at Batavia High raises more than $2,800 for sick student

By Daniel Crofts

Batavia High School students Casey Herman, left, and Maryssa Peirick practice the flute for "Musical Interludes for Trey." BHS' holiday concert was held to benefit Trey Filbert, a ninth-grader battling brain cancer.

If you were to ask any members of the BHS community about Trey Filbert, they would all probably tell you the same kind of things. Here are some comments, just to give you an idea:

"There's not a mean bone in his body," Freshman Nick Mungillo said.

"Trey's a dedicated athlete and a very sensitive and caring person," said Buddy Brasky, Trey's basketball coach. "He's a hard worker, is dependable and truly cares about each member of his team."

"His peers regard him as a kind, generous, fun young man," Principal Christopher Dailey said.

"Many of my students know him," Band Director Jane Haggett said. "They all talk about his positive attitude. He smiles a lot, is very happy, and has a gift for taking a serious situation and minimizing it."

Naturally, the BHS community responded as soon as the news arrived that Trey had been diagnosed with brain cancer.

"Multiple people came forward to help his family," Dailey said.

The largest-scale effort to help Trey and his family took place in the auditorium on Monday. The school's holiday concert was dedicated to Trey and helped raise money for his medical bills and treatment. Donations were collected at the doors, and a basket of goods donated by the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation was raffled off.

Pictured Paul Spiotta -- aka "the voice of the Batavia Blue Devils" -- was the concert's master of ceremonies.

Two major catalysts led to this event: a chicken barbeque fundraiser for Trey that took place last month and - less expectedly - the performance of flutist Megan Richardson in the Batavia Rotary Club's production of "Cinderella!" Richardson's music inspired Haggett to consider working with her on an arts-based fundraiser.

Richardson playing Francis Poulenc's "Sonate (1st Movement)" at Monday's concert.

"I heard her play and I thought, 'wow, we should really do a concert for a cause,'" Haggett said. "Then I got the e-mail about the chicken barbeque for Trey, and I knew that this was it."

The night's performances included the following:

 

BHS junior Maryssa Peirick singing "O Holy Night."

 

Batavia City School Distric BOE member Patrick D. Burk singing "Home," a song from the musical "The Wiz."

The cast of the Batavia Players' production of "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown," singing "Happiness" (Spiotta said the actors "unanimously agreed" to perform at the concert when they heard it was being done for Trey).

BHS alumnus Valerie Stevens singing "Defying Gravity," from the musical "Wicked."

The "BHS Blue Belles" -- left to right: Sarah DiBacco, Catherine McAllister, Catherine Taylor, Melzie Case and Emily Pahuta -- sang various Christmas carols.

The BHS Jazz Band, conducted by Haggett.

The entire BHS music department was involved in this event, but the spirit of generosity permeating the concert was not limited to them. Trey's classmates - aka the Freshman Class -- recently raised money for him via "Rays for Trey" (see Daily News article at http://tinyurl.com/yfzaamu).

Toward the end of the concert, four ninth-graders presented the final collection of paper suns, each signed by a BHS student, to Trey and his family (who of course had front-row seats) while happily disclosing the amount of money raised.

Haggett, who worked with the Freshman class on the chicken barbeque, applauded the students' hard work on Trey's behalf.

"I personally am very proud of this class and of how they came together for one of their own," she said.

"Any young man who has to go what Trey is going through, deserves [this type of support]," Brasky said. "His family is in need and the BHS family has come through for them."

Principal Dailey agreed.

"Batavia High is a special place where we take care of our own," he said. "I have never worked in such a positive, caring environment."

Before inviting attendees to the cafeteria for refreshments, Haggett identified this demonstration of community spirit as one of the reasonsshe loves Batavia."

"People here really do come together...and they love the arts," the band director said, adding "...Trey, we're all thinking about you, and we hope you got that impression tonight."

The benefit concert raised more than $2,851.

Beth Kinsley

Great story. It is so nice to see this community come together to help this family. Trey is a great kid and his parents and sister are truly wonderful people. I pray for your speedy recovery Trey.

Dec 23, 2009, 1:45pm Permalink
Mardell Lamb

Yes, great story indeed. It IS wonderful to see the community pull together for this family. My heart goes out to all of them. Praying for a speedy recovery as well. I can't imagine what Trey (& his family) must be going through. Let's hope that 2010 is the best year yet.

Dec 23, 2009, 2:11pm Permalink
Bea McManis

What a wonderful program. Isn't it amazing that the department that would be one of the first to go in budget cuts, is the music department...yet, they just demonstrated that their talent and skill sets are very important to the community.

Dec 23, 2009, 2:26pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

For years, I begged my mom for a guitar and guitar lessons. For some reason, she never wanted to go that route. Then in 7th grade, the band teacher at my school announced he was going to start a guitar class. I got to sign up. Mom bought me my first guitar. It wasn't much, but it was something I could learn on.

From there, my parents did pay for private lessons and I earned the money myself for better guitars.

I never became a very good guitar player, but I still enjoy it.

I love music. I believe music is mind and soul expanding. I believe all children should take some time to try and learn to play a musical instrument or sing. It's not for everybody, but music -- and certainly music appreciation -- is part of a well-rounded education, which is so essential to a civil society.

On the other hand, when money is tight, I don't buy LPs or CDs. When money is tight, I don't go to movies.

When money is tight, I don't have the luxury of going to taxpayers and demanding another 7.7 percent of their hard earned money.

At some point, the tax raising has got to stop and there needs to be some fiscal discipline enacted by our governmental agencies, including our schools.

So, while not specifically advocating for cuts to music programs, let me ask those who say music shouldn't be cut -- if not music, what? If not music, what should be cut? Again, I'm not advocating cutting music, but clearly, something must be cut, so what should be cut?

We're talking fiscal reality here. We can't simply keep spending and spending, or the Richard Gahagans of the world will be right -- we'll spend and tax our way into oblivion.

If we're going to be serious about fiscal responsibility, we don't get to cherry pick our favorite programs and keep them beyond the reach of the budget knife. At some point, the pain needs to be distributed and some cherished programs may be cut or severely curtailed.

So, if not music, what?

Dec 23, 2009, 5:32pm Permalink
Beth Kinsley

Please don't get off track. This story is about our wonderful community stepping up to help a family in need and a very sick child. Maybe that could be a poll question Howard.

Dec 23, 2009, 6:29pm Permalink

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