Cape Henlopen Jazz Band receives $3K donation from Paul Kares

Paul Kares, a local nonprofit organization, recently presented a $3,000 check to the Cape Henlopen High School Jazz Band to support its travel expenses to perform at the National Association for Music Education Eastern Division Conference set for April 13-16, in Rochester, N.Y.

The check was presented to band director Chris Burkhart and band members during their Dec. 18 performance at The Room at Cedar Grove near Lewes. Paul Kares hosted the band, which played jazz and holiday standards for a full house.

“We are so grateful to Paul Kares for this award, which goes a long way to helping fund our trip,” said Burkhart. “We were thrilled to play at a special venue like The Room at Cedar Grove. It was a special night all around.”

NAfME is the largest U.S. organization dedicated to music education, and the Eastern Division competition, referred to as the All Easterns, includes greater New York, Philadelphia, Boston and the D.C./Baltimore area. 

The competition to perform at the conference is fierce, and applicants include high schools and colleges. Military ensembles are also invited.

“This is a huge accomplishment for the students and an exciting opportunity for our region’s awesome youth scene to be showcased at a national level,” Burkhart said.
 
He said the Cape Henlopen Jazz Band is one of only two jazz bands to receive an invitation. “It’s a very big deal, and you have to apply one year in advance since they only hold the conference every other year,” Burkhart said.
 
Burkhart noted the cost is about $350 to $400 per student, including transportation, accommodations and incidentals. The Paul Kares grant is a significant contribution toward covering those expenses.

“We are so pleased and proud to be able to help the Cape Henlopen Jazz Band represent Delaware in April,” said Michael Whitehouse, executive director of Paul Kares. “They are an amazingly talented group of musicians with a promising future both collectively and individually, and clearly deserve this recognition and the community’s support. It was also great to see so many come out for a fun holiday show with the jazz band at The Room at Cedar Grove and to acknowledge the band for their wonderful accomplishments before an appreciative audience,” he added.

Paul Kares, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded by area musician and chef Paul Cullen with friend James Rivette to support young people pursuing careers in music and the culinary arts. It offers funds for financial assistance, instruments, culinary kitchen tools and scholarships covering tuition fees for specialty camps, schools and programs. Qualified individuals are Delmarva-area students interested in music, the culinary arts and related fields. Students, parents and grandparents, public and private school programs and learning camps can apply.
 
For more information, contact Whitehouse at michael@paulkaresde.org. For an application, visit paulkaresde.org.