Drastic Measures to host spring benefit concert
A number of Skidmore's a cappella groups, along with the popular Racing City Chorus, will participate in the March 29 night of song and giving back. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Wait House in Glens Falls.
Skidmore’s Drastic Measures will present their annual spring benefit concert at 8 p.m. Friday, March 29, in Filene Recital Hall, Filene Music Building. Billed as “a night of song and giving back,” the event will feature performances by a number of Skidmore a cappella groups, including the Accents, Sonneteers, Bandersnatchers, Dynamics, Drastic Measures, and Treblemakers, as well as the Life Every Voice Gospel Choir and the popular Racing City Chorus, a community group known for its “barbershop-style” presentation.
Admission is free, but donations at the door will be welcome. Donation buckets also will be distributed during the show. Proceeds will benefit the Wait House in Glens Falls, an organization that provides food and housing for homeless youth.
Skidmore’s Drastic Measures annually “adopts” a non-profit group as a point of focus
for fund-raising during the academic year. According to Victoria Waldron ’15, vice
president and secretary of the group, “The Wait House was selected after a rigorous
selection and voting process. Early in the fall, each member of the group came to
rehearsal with a charity in mind and we all decided together which charity we wanted
to support this year.”
To date, the group has donated $1,338 to Wait House; funds raised came from music
"jams" and special performances around Saratoga Springs. Wait House services include
case management, needs assessment, linkage to necessary services (medical, mental
health, substance abuse treatment), reunification with family (if appropriate), connection
and education, training and employment, on-site tutoring, life-skills training, and
after-care follow up.
In addition, the Drastic Measures raised close to $900 to support a visit to Skidmore
by The Chosen, a children’s choir from Uganda, which performed at Skidmore earlier
this year.
Success for the Drastic Measures this year is not limited to their fund-raising skills.
The group competed earlier in March in the International Championship of Collegiate
A Cappella, finishing first in the quarterfinals in Connecticut (simultaneously third
in the Northeast), which enabled them to participate in the semifinals, where their
competition ended.
The roster for the Drastic Measures includes Gabe Glissen-Brown '14, president; Allie Chipkin '14; Christine Pardos '14; Jack Mallory '15 and Sam Kastner '15, co-musical directors; Lindsey Kellstrom '15; Waldron; Harrison Lipton '15; Eli McCormack '16; Duncan Gregory '16, treasurer; Dan Plumer '16; and Katie Martucci '16. Abroad are Will Zhang '14 and Emily Streim '14.
