School music program to continue after fundraising

The Music Advocacy Group of Orcas Island has raised the necessary $9,000 in donations, through their School Music Matters fund, so that the school music program can continue unchanged. The money will allow the school to continue offering separate middle and high school strings and band classes, taught by Pamela Wright (strings) and Martin Lund (band), for the remainder of the school year, as they are at present.

October 26, 2012 5:24 pm
The High School Band and Strings
The High School Band and Strings

The Music Advocacy Group of Orcas Island has raised the necessary $9,000 in donations, through their School Music Matters fund, so that the school music program can continue unchanged.  The money will allow the school to continue offering separate middle and high school strings and band classes, taught by Pamela Wright (strings) and Martin Lund (band), for the remainder of the school year, as they are at present.

“We accepted the School Music Matters donation and we are on our way to another great music educational year,” said Orcas School board chair Tony Ghazel in a letter to Catherine Pederson, President of MAG.

Last summer when MAG became aware that the budget might not allow the music program to be fully funded by the school, Marilyn Anderson instigated a fund named “School Music Matters.” And the Orcas Island community and other friends responded.

The High School Strings, directed by Pamela Wright, presented a concert in September, sponsored by Galen, Birch and Joyce Burghardt, which raised more than $2,500.  Former students of Anderson, wishing to make a gift to the island, made significant contributions to the fund.  Additional donations, checks and a large anonymous gift brought the total to the necessary $9,000.

All donations to this fund (up to $9,000) were designated to augment music teachers’ salaries for the rest of the year so that separate classes could continue.  Any additional donations MAG receives for the School Music Matters fund will go directly toward the Orcas Island School music program.  All donations to School Music Matters are deposited with the Orcas Island Education Foundation.

Checks payable to MAG School Music Matters Fund can be mailed to P.O. Box 1170, Eastsound, WA 98245. MAG is a 501(c)(3) corporation.

“School music does matter to our school board and administration,” Pederson said. “In spite of a tight budget, the board voted to fund half of the middle-high school band and strings program, so that our fund’s $9,000 will cover the rest. MAG appreciates how very cooperative and supportive the school board has been … It is gratifying to have this outpouring of support from the community for the music program.”