Over 400 musical instruments donated by listeners during Colorado Public Radio’s Annual Instrument Drive last spring begin making their way into the hands of students during this event marking the kickoff of the instrument distribution. Ultimately, about 1,000 of the instruments collected will be repaired and given to Colorado schools.
WHO: Colorado Pubic Radio staff, students and teachers, repair-fund donors and others.
WHEN: Saturday, August 20, 1-2 p.m.
WHERE: Gates Concert Hall, Newman Center, University of Denver 2344 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO 80208
VISUALS: LOTS OF KIDS AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
About 400 repaired and refurbished instruments will be on display, each with tags identifying the recipient school / music program. Students and teachers representing about two dozen of the 30-plus schools and music programs accepting instruments, loading them into their vehicles at end of the event. Isaac Allen, 14, will play a brief violin solo. Isaac has been playing the violin since he was nine and made his public solo debut with the Boulder Youth Symphony at age 10.
BACKGROUND
Tripling expectations, more than 1,300 musical instruments were collected last March during the instrument drive. To date, nearly 500 instruments have been repaired and refurbished by the Colorado Institute of Musical Instrument Technology (CIOMIT) of Castle Rock. Repairs on the remaining instruments continue. Ultimately, about 1,000 of instruments will end up in schools and music programs around the state for use by students. Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation reviewed school applications and helped select the schools and music programs to receive instruments.
Instruments were collected at nine locations, including CPR, music stores around the Denver metro area and at the Grand Junction Symphony office.
Eleven cultural organizations helped publicize the instrument drive by including fliers in event programs, pre-concert announcements and emails to their followers.
Studying music in school has been shown to improve academic performance. It also has a positive effect on students’ self-discipline, self-esteem, as well as thinking and listening skills.
Colorado Public Radio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides 24-hour, in-depth news and music to about 450,000 listeners each week (Source: Arbitron, Spring / Fall 2010). More than 90 percent of CPR’s funds come from the private support of listeners, businesses, and foundations.
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