PRINCETON, WV (WVVA) – A grant sponsored by Save The Music Foundation aims to keep the gift of music alive at Glenwood Middle School.
Save The Music Foundation was established in 2009 in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History.
This grant will allow more instruments to be used in music classrooms for fall 2025.
West Virginia House Majority Whip Marty Gearhart was also in attendance to celebrate the good news with the students.
He says this is another great investment in arts and cultural opportunities for young students here in Mercer County.
He said: “I’m really looking forward to them using music to expand their lives and do everything they can and be successful in life. The arts are a big part of that, and this is a big part of moving the arts in that direction. It’s helpful.”
This direction has already impacted more than 130 middle schools in West Virginia.
Thanks to Save The Music Foundation, music classrooms across the Mountain State continue to grow.
Chiho Findler, Chief Program Officer, shares some of their own musical experiences and why they feel it is so important to provide students with the opportunity to connect with music potentially.
she says: “Personally, I grew up playing instruments, so that was my reason for coming to school and completing my classes so I could participate in making music. For me, it was about finding my passion and helping my students as well. So finding a passion for coming to school, finding a purpose to aspire to in an ensemble activity like that, that’s really good. So it’s a really great way to start the day here starting at 8am. So it’s amazing to see.”
That passion and curiosity drove eighth-grader Elijah May to continue exploring his love of music.
he says: “Well, what inspired me is that I think it sounds really great. Last year, a friend showed me a video of a tuba and I wanted to be like that too. We To know that I have a successful school, that I’m in a really good place and that everyone here is really great.”
Elijah’s enthusiasm highlights the positive impact of the music programming that Save the Music Foundation is working to preserve.
The foundation hopes to expand grants to all middle schools in West Virginia by 2027.
Save The Music has donated $75 million worth of musical instruments and technology to more than 2,800 schools, impacting the lives of millions of students.
For more information, please visit the website savethemusic.org.
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