WEST SPRINGFIELD — The West Springfield Partnership for Education is welcoming Dueling Pianos on Oct. 23 to raise funds in support of West Springfield Public Schools students and teachers.
The event features two pianists playing face-to-face who welcome audience participation with song requests for an interactive and high energy show.
It runs from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at Storrowton Tavern Carriage House, 1305 Memorial Ave. Tickets are $65 per person. Purchase also includes a buffet dinner and cash bar.
WSPE is a nonprofit organization that strives to support West Springfield schools, educators and students. The foundation focuses on putting human and material resources toward improving the quality of education and strengthening community support in the school district.
District Behavior Specialist and WSPE President Lisa Aubin said the group empowers educators to help enrich student learning experiences in and out of the classroom through financial support and relies on collaborations with local businesses to keep the mission moving forward.
She said Dueling Pianos will be a great night and the organization was lucky enough to receive funds from The Big E Trust Grant to put it on.
The Big E Trust Grant stems from a relationship between West Springfield and the Eastern States Exposition. ESE donates 1% of its annual gross operating revenue each year, which goes right back into the community to provide assistance to local businesses and organizations.
Aubin said members meet monthly to determine which events would best suit the organization, and Dueling Pianos came from a board member who had already seen it live.
“We’ve held a trivia night, and that is always a huge success,” Aubin said. “Last year, I brought forward a calendar raffle and we made a lot of money on that, which we will also be doing again in the spring.”
The organization put $6,000 into 23 educator’s hands last year through its “Mini-Grants for Educators” program. Funds are awarded to educators who “propose creative and innovative programs that enrich the educational experience,” according to the application guidelines.
Aubin said the organization tries to fund programmatic events rather than just school supplies.
“We have an application process that goes out to all of West Springfield Public Schools and [St. Thomas the Apostle School] here in West Springfield,” Aubin said. “Teachers can apply for a mini-grant and then we have a committee that looks at the applications. We gave out 17 at $300 and six at $150, I believe is what it was last year. The teachers apply for things like math nights, family nights at their school’s literacy nights and then any type of classroom experience.”
Aubin said teachers and students are very near and dear to the hearts of WPSE members and any support given to them is very important. “It’s why I am a part of the West Springfield Partnership,” Aubin said. “I am a previous teacher, but continue to work for West Springfield Public Schools in a different capacity. Getting these funds to the front lines, into the classrooms, so that students can have these experiences above and beyond what just happens with just academics is very important to us.”
She said she thinks it’s a great time of year to have an event like Dueling Pianos and is hoping for a fantastic turnout.
Dueling Pianos tickets can be purchased at givebutter.com/dueling-piano-tickets-xrbltu. More information on the WSPE can be found at sites.google.com/site/wspedu or on Facebook, @WestSpringfieldPartnershipforEducation.
