SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Spanish Fort Middle School’s inaugural fundraiser will showcase the new school’s artistic side with a Fine Arts Extravaganza slated for 7 p.m. April 25 at the Daphne Civic Center.

“We feel that even though we are a new school, our fine-arts program is exceptional, and we wanted to highlight for the community some of the talent we see every day,” Principal Carol Palumbo said.

For instance, the school’s band earned the highest score possible, a superior rating, during the 2009 state contest, while the choirs will travel to Birmingham April 21 for their assessment after earning a superior rating at the district level.

“These programs, of course, do not come cheap, and it is our hope that we can raise money to purchase additional instruments and materials. In addition, we have a fantastic visual-arts program and would like to purchase additional materials for those classes,” Palumbo said.

Organizers are expecting between 500 and 750 patrons with tickets costing $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets, which go on sale April 20, will be sold in the school office or can be purchased from any student.

Palumbo said the event required a larger venue than Spanish Fort Middle School can accommodate on site, so the decision was made to hold it at the Daphne Civic Center.

“It is so hard to say exactly what attendance might be, considering this is our first time doing this, but we had our Christmas concert here at the school and maxed out our capacity in our cafetorium,” Palumbo said.

In addition to live performances by the bands and choirs, visual arts will be on display and desserts will be prepared by both the teen-living classes and members of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

The real trick, Palumbo said, was creating an event that would stand apart from those already offered at the elementary schools, including a fall festival at Rockwell Elementary and a silent auction at Spanish Fort Elementary.

“This is our first major fundraising event by our school, and a concert seemed like a good fit for us,” Palumbo said.

“We have very talented young people. I am thrilled to showcase their amazing abilities.”

“These programs, of course, do not come cheap, and it is our hope that we can raise money to purchase additional instruments and materials. In addition, we have a fantastic visual-arts program and would like to purchase additional materials for those classes,” Palumbo said.

Organizers are expecting between 500 and 750 patrons with tickets costing $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets, which go on sale April 20, will be sold in the school office or can be purchased from any student.

Palumbo said the event required a larger venue than Spanish Fort Middle School can accommodate on site, so the decision was made to hold it at the Daphne Civic Center.

“It is so hard to say exactly what attendance might be, considering this is our first time doing this, but we had our Christmas concert here at the school and maxed out our capacity in our cafetorium,” Palumbo said.

In addition to live performances by the bands and choirs, visual arts will be on display and desserts will be prepared by both the teen-living classes and members of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

The real trick, Palumbo said, was creating an event that would stand apart from those already offered at the elementary schools, including a fall festival at Rockwell Elementary and a silent auction at Spanish Fort Elementary.

“This is our first major fundraising event by our school, and a concert seemed like a good fit for us,” Palumbo said.

“We have very talented young people. I am thrilled to showcase their amazing abilities.”