Prize money of $10,000 to be used for new tuxedoes for boys’ choir

By Erik Brito &

Ben Palmer

In October and November, Lane students put aside their opinions of Glee to unite in an effort to win the Lane Tech Music Department up to $50,000 from the show. The Glee Give a Note contest was Lane’s chance to show off our squalor and win the department some much cash.

Evidently, the squalor wasn’t squalorly enough. With 65,532 votes, Lane placed second in the contest, winning $10,000 for music.

“Our goal was just to win a prize,” said Mr. Mark Carrera. “We want to thank everyone for voting.”

To prepare for the contest, the Carerra brothers wrote and filmed a parody of Bohemian Rhapsody, entitled “New Instrument Rhapsody.” The boys of Advanced Mixed Chorus performed in the video, as well as various band and orchestra students.

Many Lane students used Facebook to spread the word, posting links to the video and voting site and urging friends to “support music at Lane Tech!”

The administration even put aside the cell phone policy for a day when students were asked to vote on their phones during morning announcements.

Lane was enjoying its place at the top until, out of nowhere, tragedy struck. An Ohio school began to catch up in votes. The school had apparently been struck by a tornado, and needed the money a little more than Lane, according to interviewed students and staff.

Their video showed students crying, discussing their crushed love of music, and picking up the leftovers of their building, which lie in rubble completely destroyed.

“I mean, at first I felt bad for them,” said Rebecca Lange, Div. 257, “but in a way every school has a reason for the things they need.”

Lange added that “it was sort of unjust for them to win just because of tragedy.”

The reason Lane likely didn’t win as much money as some other schools was its lack of need. The contest only gave 10% of a school’s final score to it’s placing in the voting contest. The remaining 90% of the score reflected the video quality, creativity, and demonstrated need.

As we demonstrated less need, we received only the second place prize. Lange says this is still fine with her.

“I feel like it’s awesome we still got something,” she said.

The money, M. Carrera says, will be split within the music department. Band, Orchestra, and Choir will each receive $3000 while Guitar will receive $1000.

“We’ll probably buy tuxedos,” said Mr. Paul Carrera, who heads the choir department with his brother Mark. “We’re going to start with [the tuxedos] because we got [the money] from no where.”

The cost for new tuxedos is over $100, a price each male in choir had to pay. The Carerras say that tuxedos will now be available to rent for $20-25 dollars, saving students money.

Bobby Linse, Div. 266, thinks that renting tuxedos makes much more sense for boys in choir.

“[The tuxedos] are really only meant [for performing,]” Linse said. “…Like you wouldn’t wear that to prom or anything.”