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Symphony Donates Instruments to Charlotte Schools

Dec 19, 2014

BY ANDY SMITH

He wasn't Santa Claus, but Chris Stonnell did come bearing gifts for students at Albemarle Road Middle School and Sugar Creek Charter School. On Thursday, Charlotte Symphony's director of education delivered dozens of instruments to the schools, as part of Instruments for Kids. Instruments included brass, woodwinds, and a bass guitar. The donations help make a jazz or pop band at Albemarle Road Middle a reality.

Since 2012, the program has called for unused or broken instruments for redistribution in Charlotte schools. In the months leading up to their delivery, the instruments are cleaned and refurbished, packing Stonnell's office with black cases. Donations are also used for an after-school music program at Winterfield Elementary and the needs of the Youth Orchestra.

Sixty-five instruments have been distributed since Instruments for Kids kicked off, but the need continues across the district. The symphony accepts all sizes of orchestral instruments. You can drop them off at any of the group's Classics series concerts or the CSO Ticket Kiosk (located at Two Wells Fargo Center, 301 South Tryon Street). The symphony lists student-size violins and cellos as "critical needs."

If you have an old trumpet laying around your attic, consider a drive to Uptown. As for seeing some instruments in action, check out our weekend line-up of live music, theatre, and more.

Article at Charlotte Magazine.