To The Reader’s Forum:

The Jamestown Schools PROMISE Fund and the JPS’s Music Department cannot thank the Community enough for the wonderful response to the first ever Music Instrument Drive which was held on Saturday, Sept. 8. Seventy instruments and over $1,000 in donations were received! One of the wonderful parts of this project were the stories people told of the history and the meaning that the donated instrument had for them. It was inspirational to all. Our team manned the several tables that were set up to receive and tag the instruments with necessary information, enter the data into the computer, and then have seasoned musicians right there cleaning, fixing, playing for fine tuning, and assessing the instruments on the spot. Band students then brought the instruments into the high school for storage, and eventual processing and distribution to the schools in need of instruments for band and orchestra. Some instruments were in perfect condition and a sight to behold.

The hard-working team who planned and implemented the drive included PROMISE Fund Board members, JPS music faculty, retired music teachers, JPS school board members, band and orchestra supporters, parents of music students, as well as community members. The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, all our local media and many others contributed to our success. It was a very special endeavor for every volunteer involved, for those that donated and especially for the students in our school system who will have more access to band and orchestra music and all the many benefits that it brings to them.

Our heartfelt thanks to all!

The Music Instrument Drive Team

Dr. Lillian V. Ney, coordinator

Jamestown