The Temple High School Choir Department has a history of excellence and tradition that is often displayed through our small ensembles, The Polyfoniks and Encore. This school year will mark the 20th year that the Polyfoniks have been invited to perform at the Tremont House in Galveston, Texas, during the annual Dickens on the Strand Festival. This trip is one of the highlights of the year for students in the Polys. This is a unique opportunity for our students, as we are the only school who is invited to stay and perform at the historic Treemont House. This year will also mark 10 years that Encore has traveled to San Antonio to participate in the river-barge caroling on the San Antonio Riverwalk. Every year many people look forward to hearing Encore sing in downtown San Antonio during this weekend. 

As the cost of traveling has increased (gas, hotels, food), and much of our funding from the state has stayed the same, we have reached a point where we must raise additional funding to make these trips possible. These trips provide an opportunity for our students to represent our program and district across the state and continue the reputation of excellence we have built over the years. For many of our students, these trips provide an opportunity to stay in a hotel for the first time, or even leave Bell County for the very first time.We have added several new fundraisers (MOD Pizza, Birdcreek Burger, etc.), in hopes of raising the funds that are necessary to make these trips happen. However, we are still seeking additional financial support from former members, choir parents, and community members, and beyond in order to continue providing these valuable experiences for our students. As we prepare for our traveling season, we hope that you will consider giving towards this cause as we strive to continue these traditions within the Temple High School Choir Department.