Music honors society Tri-M held a benefit concert on April 16 for senior Ginny Hooper, who was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic adrenocortical cancer earlier this school year.
Members of Tri-M, the National Honor Society (NHS) and the Loudoun Valley Service Initiative (LVSI), as well as teachers and students across the county, gathered in Valley’s cafeteria to show support for Hooper.
“Everybody knows Ginny, she’s just such a motivator. And the influence that she’s had on us all has really just brought us all together in this,” Tri-M Vice President Lauren MacDonnell said.
The event, intended to raise awareness for Hooper’s story, invited students to perform a short piece of music in front of an audience. Performers included students from Loudoun Valley, Woodgrove and Blue Ridge Middle School — and former band director Rick Reaves.
“A lot of different people all came and asked, ‘What can I do to help?’ and that’s what makes this event so special,” MacDonnell said. “Ginny is at the core of that. She really inspired this in people.”
Attendants were encouraged to donate to Hooper’s GoFundMe and to enjoy the snacks and drinks provided by the event’s many volunteers. Additionally, attendants were able to sign posters and make cards for Hooper, wishing her a quick recovery or a week-late “Happy birthday.”
Hooper, unable to attend in person, was live-streamed into the event and watched performances from her hospital room.
Tri-M President Addison Miller had come up with the idea for a coffee house benefit concert several months ago — inspired by her friend, a Tri-M President at another school.
“Ginny, I’ve known for a long time now. And she is so sweet; she’s so kind and thoughtful,” Miller said. “We really wanted to do something to not only raise awareness, but also to give back to someone that’s helped our community so much.”
When Miller and MacDonnell brought the idea to the other Tri-M officers, their idea quickly gained momentum, with members working together to make this idea a reality.
“It brings me so much joy when an event like this is thought of by the students themselves,” Tri-M sponsor and music teacher Kelly Holowecki said. “This really was a student driven service for all of us, they really organized everything.”
Through this concert, Miller and MacDonnell hoped to connect with Hooper and reassure her through this challenging time.
“We can’t really even begin to understand the thing she’s going through,” Miller said. “Just anything that shows her that we are there for her. And that we support her and we know what a great person she is.”
In honor of their friend, Miller and MacDonnell performed “Enchanted” from Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now,” Hooper’s favorite album.
“We just wanted to keep Ginny at the heart of this event and center it really around her,” MacDonnell said.
Many continue to hope for Hooper’s health. Following the event, Hooper’s GoFundMe has made it over halfway to their goal of $80,000 to cover hospital expenses as Hooper’s mother, Lorraine Lloyd, takes a long-term leave from her teaching job to support her daughter.
This story was originally published on The Viking on April 18, 2024.
