Bringing Music...Back To School!

Providing every child access to the life-changing experience of making music.

QUARTER NOTES

September 2023

INSTRUMENT

PRESENTATION

DAY August 12, 2023

hosted by the

Robert and Judi Newman

Center for the Performing Arts

52 TEACHERS

head

back to school

with

770 INSTRUMENTS!

2023 Recipients

Bringing sound back to silent instruments.

Bringing school music programs back into being.

Bringing students, teachers and music back together.

Al Duran

Sangre de Cristo Schools

Sangre de Cristo School District

I applied for instruments,

so more kids can play.

"Until they hired me, Sangre de Cristo schools hadn't had music for 14 years! They had nothing. Not even general music.

There’s a lot of kids who can’t join band because they don’t have the money. When I came to the school over half of the instruments were broken. We tried to get as many fixed as we could but I only have a $700 budget for K-12. So, I get donations."

Maria Hedrick

Aurora Science & Tech Middle School

DSST Public Schools

We do lots of things

but now we can do more.

These instruments are a gift we will utilize daily.

"I’m a visual art instructor and I am bringing music back to life! We are doing a production of "School of Rock: The Musical". I have a theater background and found that the kids here at school have a lot of musical talent. I’m going to facilitate their magic. They are the real geniuses, not me! Oh, this is wonderful!"

Dave Balesstrini

DSST Conservatory Green Middle School

DSST Public Schools

I think every school

should have a band.

"I'm hoping to start a concert band program this year. Up until now I’ve only done general music and modern band. This is what I went to college for. So, I’m really excited because it’s the wheelhouse. I have a lot of students who are really into a lot of Mexican genres of music. So, I’m hoping this is going to facilitate expansion into whatever my students end up wanting to do in the future, but basics first."

Kristin Craig

Stratton K-12

Stratton School District 4

Bringing Music to Life instruments are helping my program grow.

"I start at 5^th grade. I've got 20 students coming in. And then in our Junior High, I think I’m going to have about 30 – they love band! And maybe 15 high schoolers this year. My first year I only had four. For a school our size, considering that when I came to Stratton kids couldn’t read music, they couldn’t count or anything, 15 is a big number. It is a big deal!"

VOLUNTEERS CARRY THE DAY

The opportunity to work with student volunteers is one of the best parts of Moving Day. This year involved trucking hundreds of instruments from multiple repair locations to The Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts. The August afternoon was invariably a hot one, filled with loading and unloading trucks, carrying heavy instruments and carefully sorting them for pick up by dozens of schools.

We had asked high school teachers who would be receiving instruments for their students' time and muscle - but they brought so much more to the job. Their energy, humor, patience, and respect for each other and our mission were invigorating. We loved hearing them point out exceptional or unique instruments and ooh and ahh over those their programs would be receiving. They got so much done so efficiently - we couldn't have done it without them.

Bringing Music to Life thanks John Jonas, Denver North High School Instrumental Music Teacher and Megan Lewin, Westminster High School Director of Bands for sharing their generous students with us. We wish them each an exceptional school year.

The Westminster High School Marching Band Leadership Team is playful even when not playing their instruments. They brought a sense of fun to the work of setting up for Instrument Presentation Day. Look at what they helped us accomplish!

AN OUTRO OF NOTE

We are truly grateful for the many ways in which they have fostered the creative vitality of generations of Colorado musicians over the last 93 years. Theirs is an example of dedication and service to the music community which we strive to emulate.

WAYS TO PLAY WITH US

Through vehicle donation your car, truck or motorcycle can go far in the right direction - even when it has reached the end of the road.

When you donate through our partner, Driven to Donate, 80% of the net sold price benefits Bringing Music to Life.

Driven to Donate, is a DBA of Step Denver, a recovery program in downtown Denver that gives men with nowhere else to turn the opportunity to overcome the consequences of addiction through sobriety, work, accountability and community.

All you need is a clear title and keys; we accept all vehicles regardless of condition.

Your old car can help us give more kids more instruments.

Vehicle Donation

Attention Shoppers

ORGANIZATION ID BF312

King Soopers Community Rewards

If you haven't already linked your King Soopers Shopper's Card (or dedicated King Soopers Credit Card) to BMTL, please take a minute and do it here. Once you link your Card to Brining Music to Life, all you have to do is shop - your support, it's in the bag!

Fill your cart and play your part for Colorado music education today!

Visit Our Website

Bringing Music to Life

2390 S Fillmore St

Denver, Colorado 80210

(303) 756-3123

www.bringingmusictolife.org

Steve Blatt, Executive Director . Christine Andresen, Assistant Executive Director . Michael Frank, Board Chair .

Rebekah Bonn . Sue Coughlin . Peter Dawes . Anne Necker . David Necker . Kathy Newman .

Jerry Reuschhoff . Lin Williams .