Help Keep Our Kids Singing!
Now more than ever, we rely on your gifts and sponsorships to fund classes, workshops, festivals and performances! Ticket sales and choir tuitions historically cover just 42% of our annual budget. The rest depends on your help—to produce programs, keep ticket prices family-friendly, buy music, and offer scholarships.
The Craig Bond Legacy Fund
Mr Bond’s ongoing leadership has built something extraordinary in St Helena, and we celebrate him by dedicating our annual fund drive to ensuring that the programs and the musical seeds he has so tirelessly cultivated will continue for many more harvests of harmony and inspiration.
If you - or your business or foundation - would consider a directed donation to the Craig Bond Legacy Fund, or possibly sponsoring something close to your heart, please don't hesitate to call Craig Bond at 707-963-7712.
You may give securely online or mail an old-fashioned check! Our Tax ID is 26-0526007.
Our 2022 Annual Fund Plea
Dear Choral Society friends and family,
We are writing to you, our loyal friends, with a special Annual Appeal for your continued support.
During these long months of restrictions, our choirs have shouldered an extra burden of precaution. To simply sing together, much less perform for you, we needed to pivot quickly to adjust and keep everyone safe. These changes have, naturally, strained our finances.
Usually, almost HALF of the St. Helena Choral Society’s annual budget is funded by student tuition and ticket sales to performances. That income was severely reduced in both 2020 and 2021. That’s why we’re relying so keenly on your gifts this year–to help us bridge the gap back to “normal.”
But the exciting news is that “normal” seems to be on its way, and we do have progress to share!
At the heart of our successes during the pandemic is the dedicated work of our founder and creative director, Craig Bond, ably assisted by Melissa Bond. They kept the SHCS on mission to sing and learn together, with full seasons of Children’s Chorus and Teen Choir, practicing outdoors in all weathers, and even performing–outdoors and in masks.
This continuity has meant the world to these kids, many of whom reach graduation enriched by 10 years of choral work with the Bonds–and a shot at the college scholarships the SHCS awards to outstanding students.
In more good news…we are thrilled to announce that as of this Fall, all four of our St Helena choirs (Childrens, Teen, Chamber Singers, and Jazz@7) have been able to meet and sing together, using full recommended precautions. It has been a joy to us all.
Although sadly, we’ve judged that circumstances remain too challenging this fall for our Chamber Singers to safely present their annual Christmas program–a St Helena tradition since 1979–we are planning to come back strong in April 2022! Our Spring concert will feature Vivaldi’s Gloria, a chamber orchestra, professional soloists, and a combined Youth Choir. We hope you’ll join us!
Every fall since our founding as a nonprofit in 2007, we have asked for your support, and you have always responded with great generosity. Will you please continue to help St. Helena choral music and education thrive? You may give securely here at the link below.
If you'd prefer to mail a check, please write to:
St Helena Choral Society, P.O. Box 164, St Helena, CA 94574
If you'd like speak to us about a specific use for your gift, matching gifts at your organization, please don't hesitate to contact Craig Bond directly. 707-963-7712.
With sincere thanks,
Bill Phelps
President, St Helena Choral Society
Our NPO Tax ID is 26-0526007