In conjunction with the Jazz Festival that is being held at Twin Valley High School (TVHS) on Friday, March 25, at 6 p.m., the Twin Valley Music Boosters will hold a silent auction to raise money for the music programs within the Twin Valley School District.

Parent volunteer Lynne Franz of TEG Auction Services is organizing the auction, which will begin at 5 p.m. Auction items will be on display in the main lobby at TVHS, located at 2897 N. Twin Valley Road, Elverson.

People will be able to bid on items before the concert and during intermission. "(People will) register and get a number and bid on whatever items (they) are interested in," said Franz. "By the time the concert is over, we should be able to announce the winners."

In addition to the TVHS Jazz Ensemble, other performers will be students from Exeter, Muhlenberg and Oley Valley high schools. "The community can come in and hear some cool jazz music played by Berks County students and raise funds for the music program here at Twin Valley," said Robert Bennett, TVHS director of bands, who noted that the jazz concert will be free and open to the public.

Each of the high school bands will receive a free clinic and performance feedback from local jazz educators and professionals, including saxophonist and teacher Andrew Mohler; John Copenhaver, adjunct professor of trumpet at Lebanon Valley College; and Jonathan Gardner, director of the Kroc Center Jazz Orchestra.

"One clinician will come up on stage and give a live clinic for the kids. They will get direct feedback ... and hear how they did and (learn) tips to get better," said Bennett.

The Twin Valley Music Boosters raise funds for equipment and instruments, and they provide scholarships for the students within the TVHS music program. "The boosters provides scholarships for kids to take private lessons. It's great that the boosters can step in and meet that need," Bennett stated. More information about the group is available at http://www.facebook.com/TV.MusicBoosters.

Some large-ticket items have already donated to the silent auction, including clear teeth straightening aligners, a gift donated by Dr. Yooson Kim of Family Dentistry of Morgantown, valued at nearly $5,000. A teeth whitening system was donated by West Chester Dental Arts. Other silent auction items include fine porcelain collectible figurines by Lladro, Lenox and others; Longaberger baskets; sterling silver jewelry; stained glass lamps; Coca-Cola collectibles; original works of art; and Noritake china.

Organizers are seeking additional donations from the community. Suggested donations include service coupons/gift certificates, baked goods, jewelry, art and home decor. Items are also needed for an upcoming online auction for the Twin Valley Music Boosters in May.

Bennett added that the festival is part of the effort of schools in Berks County to promote jazz. "Jazz is uniquely American, and any any time kids can interact with something that is a unique American art form is a positive thing," he stated.

For more information or to make a donation for the auction, contact Franz at 484-798-8401 or lynnebf@ptd.net. More information about the TVHS music program can be found at http://www.twinvalleybands.com.