The Brentwood School of Music is putting on a unique fundraising event.
The school’s music teacher Mike Preston is listening to Wham’s holiday hit Last Christmas for 12 hours straight. The song was among a list of music that was voted on by the public and Preston has a personal connection to this particular song.
“I saw George Michael by accident in Madison Square Garden when I was 13 and it was unbelievable,” smiles Preston. “He put on such a spectacular show, such a set of pipes.”
At 12 p.m. Sunday afternoon the ordeal began and Preston has been busy — vowing to learn the song on nearly every instrument in the school’s arsenal.
“I’m happy that this song has at least more than two chords in it,” laughs Preston. “You can get really jazzy with that.”
Preston’s entire ordeal, however, is for a good cause. The music teacher is helping to raise funds for the Mustard Seed Street Church, whose annual fundraising concert was canceled this year because of the pandemic.
“Usually there would be a big fundraising concert with Barney Bentall and his whole big band,” says Preston. “They do a few nights and I think they raise tens of thousands.”
While it might not be the most pleasant way to spend 12 hours, the donations have made it all worthwhile.
“It’s pretty easy for me to sit here doing this all day but it’s the folks throughout the community that keep donating,” says Preston. “We’re super ecstatic.”
As for how he’s holding up?
“This is a good song right,” grimaces Preston.
“Ask me in a couple hours, I can deal with it,” he added with a smirk.
To make a donation either stop by the school or visit Mike’s GoFundMe page.
Cole Sorenson
