Holiday Quintet Raises Money for Charities

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A group of five students from the Southington High School Marching Band took to the town green on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013 to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project and the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.

The five, Brett Simms, Nick Ottalagana, Matt McLaughlin, Alexander Statkevich and Kyle Semmel played holiday music under the gazebo on the town green. People came to listen to amazing Christmas and holiday songs performed by the five, and donated to the two charities.

Simms, 15, one of the musicians, and the event’s organizer said, “I knew that there were a ton of talented musicians with me in the Marching Band, and I thought that it would be great to put our talent into use even when it's not marching band season.”

Ottalagana, 15, also a Musician said, “It’s important to think of others during this time of the year and to know our work will be helping others meant more than the world to us”.

Also, McLaughlin, 14, said, “It felt good to be doing something for the community and knowing more kids and wounded soldiers will be helped.”

The quintet was on the green playing their music on the Dec. 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and again on Dec. 22 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and raised a total of $450 that was donated to the Wounded Warriors project and the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.

Statkevich, 15, commented, “I felt happy inside knowing that I was able to give back to people that are in the greatest need right now. We are very excited that we raised so much money and it will hopefully help the two organization greatly.”

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