We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Harlem, MT, May 25, 2016 – Harlem students will soon receive new musical instruments, thanks to The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.
With many school music programs across the country losing vital funding, the foundation helps under-served schools with minimal budgets by donating new instruments, often replacing some that are more than 30 years old.
An application for support was submitted by Dan Owens of Harlem High School and the foundation found the program to be a worthwhile investment, allowing more students to be able to play and experience the benefits of music education.
Dan Owens, Music Director at HHS say, “I am both honored and excited for our students. Thank You Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation for awarding our students the opportunity to create beautiful music on these wonderful instruments.”
“Learning music in school is a way to engage kids and give them something that makes them better students and better people,” said Felice Mancini, President & CEO of The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. “They deserve every tool available to help them receive a quality education, and we want to insure that music is in that toolbox.”
Harlem Jr/Sr High School currently has 205 students enrolled in grades 7-12, with 48 participating in band. With this award, Mr. Owens hopes to double the number of participants in the music program and replace the many old and damaged instruments in the inventory.
The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation donates musical instruments to under-funded schools in an effort to give youngsters the many benefits of music education, help them to be better students and inspire creativity and expression through playing music. The organization was inspired by the 1995 motion picture Mr. Holland’s Opus and founded by Michael Kamen, who composed the music for the movie and countless others. In the last 20 years, over 20,000 instruments have been donated to over 1,360 schools across the country. More information can be found at http://www.mhopus.org.
