If you have NOT yet been to the annual MYSO Playathon, then get ready to have some fun!!

The annual Playathon, MYSO's one major, all-program fundraiser, is a music-focused event which raises much needed revenue to support MYSO activities throughout the year.

Each student musician has two pivotal parts to play:
First, to learn wonderful music which they will perform at their season-opening concert at which all 10+ MYSO ensembles perform!

Second, for the four weeks leading up to the Playathon performance, students go out into the community to seek out donations to help support MYSO.

Scholarship recipients have an added obligation to help the organization in this way.  Last year's Playathon raised nearly $90,000 and all of it went back to support the organization and included purchases of music and instruments, salaries to conductors and coaches and bus rental for outreach concerts.  There will be prizes for those students who display extra effort.

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

The general idea is that we ask all 800+ students in MYSO to go out and raise at least $125 for MYSO. MYSO tuition covers less than 1/3 of what it actually costs to participate in MYSO--music, rehearsal halls, concert hall rental, paying conductors, coaches, mailings, newsletters, etc. This is the only major fundraiser we do each year where we ask the students to help.

$125 can be raised in a number of ways--ask 25 people to give $5 each, 5 people to give $25 each--or 125 people to give $1, etc.

Prizes!! We try to make it fun by offering great prizes for those who reach that $125 goal or go beyond it (as many kids do--some have raised over $5,000!) Prizes include: sports tickets, sometimes we get a luxury suite for an admirals game, lunch or dinner with a conductor, restaurant certificates, movie passes, CDs, Milwaukee Symphony tickets, plus tons of MYSO merchandise such as stuffed animals, t-shirts, water bottles, sweatshirts, mugs, etc.

Plus prizes for the MYSO ensemble that does the best as a group! Party for the winning group at the end! Keep in mind that group prizes are awarded according to achievement by the group as a whole.

REMEMBER:

No one gives unless they are asked--but most give willingly and generously once they have been asked. Why don’t you be the one to do the asking

• Yes, you can bring in money on the day of the Playathon!!!
• Yes, you certainly can bring in more than $125—and you earn better prizes the more money you bring in! (See packet!)