As a fundraiser, playing for an audience beats selling wrapping paper or magazine subscriptions, said McCallum senior Catherine Cotham, a cellist. "We're doing something people actually appreciate."
"Plus, I'm doing what I love," added McCallum senior Gonzalo Hernando, a violinist who, like Cotham, was part of the group that has taken top honors at University Interscholastic League competitions this year. Both plan to continue playing their instruments in one venue or another in college next year.
School choirs and bands have been performing at local civic events "since the dawn of time," said John May, Austin school district's interim administrative supervisor of fine arts. He estimates that he gets inquiries about hiring school musical groups about once a month.
But the McCallum orchestra, which started hiring out string ensembles for cocktail parties, weddings and other events this year, is one of a handful of local student musical groups that actively solicit paying gigs, either for fundraising purposes or as a way for students to make extra cash. String quartets from the Westwood High School orchestra in Round Rock also perform professionally for pay.
Still, some band directors shy away from seeking out paying engagements and limit the number of requests they accept. In San Marcos, for example, school music groups don't advertise their services, because the groups aren't prepared to play for the length of time most requestors want, and private performances can take time away from studying or part-time jobs. Finding a teacher to cover the classes of a staff member supervising off-campus performances also is sometimes difficult, San Marcos band director Kelly Rushfeldt said.
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"If you did it wrong, you could spend all your time doing that, and (students) have lessons to learn," May said.
The 100-student McCallum orchestra regularly receives top scores at state competitions and was selected, along with the McCallum, Pflugerville and San Marcos high school choirs, to work with internationally recognized conductor John Rutter on a performance at Carnegie Hall in June 2009.
Chris and Christi Peralta, who met at Travis High School, hired the McCallum quartet to play at their Austin wedding in March. They are both teachers and were drawn to the idea of having student musicians accompany their march down the aisle, Chris Peralta said.
"We considered some mariachi groups, but we just thought this was more of our style, more in our price range and more meaningful for both of us," he said.
Peralta, who said he's more likely to listen to the Shins or Wilco than anything classical, said he and his wife were particularly impressed by the student musicians' professionalism.
"Other than the wedding march, we weren't sure what would be typical for a wedding," he said. "They had it all organized for us."
McCallum sophomore Olivia Erwin, a violinist, said she likes the chance to pick the program for private performances with her schoolmates.
"We usually skip the (musical pieces) we don't like that much," she said.
At the Barton Creek gig last month, Olivia and the other musicians finished one classic piece and quietly conferred about the next as the lawyers mingled. They finally settled on an elegant version of "Hey Jude."
"I left my Led Zeppelin arrangements at home," Olivia said, shrugging.
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Booking information
University Interscholastic League rules that bar athletes from receiving cash or other gifts from supporters do not apply to individual student musicians. So students may accept money for playing without jeopardizing their UIL eligibility. Local student musical groups that take on paying gigs include:
Austin
McCallum High School Fine Arts Academy Orchestra
Trios, quartets, quintets and double bass ensembles. Prices range from $400 to $700. Proceeds are split among student performers and a tax-deductible contribution to the orchestra's performance fund. For more information, visit www.macorchestrafund.org, e-mail bookings@macorchestrafund.org or call 420-0968.
The Vinson and Elkins law firm hired the string ensemble from McCallum High School Fine Arts Academy Orchestra for its reception at the conference center. The student musical group, which performs at cocktail parties and other events, use the gigs to help pay for travel to performances and contests. Some band directors, however, do not pursue paying engagements because the groups can't play for the length of time most requestors desire.
mbloom@statesman.com; 445-3620
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