As printed in The Journal on May 13, 2026.
Friends of Music donated a $492 grant to Tomahawk Intermediate School for the purchase of a Kaleidoscope Alto Xylophone.
Music teacher, Pamela Lehr, said “This xylophone is an excellent addition to our Orff inventory that will benefit over 600 students per year and for many years to come. These instruments are useful in the exploration of melody and harmony and other musical elements.
The different colored bars allow for color coded musical notation. This is helpful for students who may need additional help in reading standard music notation. The students love the bright colors of this instrument and are very excited to be able to play this beautiful alto xylophone.”
The donation is part of a Friend’s grant program to support music education in Berkeley and Jefferson County public schools. The grants typically involve instruments and music supplies not covered by regular school budgets. The grants are awarded annually based on applications submitted by music teachers. Friends of Music appreciates receiving generous support from Ecolab and the Nora Roberts Foundation for this program.
The Friends of Music organization is a Shepherdstown-based, non-profit organization founded in 1999 to promote musical excellence. It supports Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, the only professional classical music orchestra in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia and one of only three such orchestras in the state. Full information about Friends of Music is available at www.friendswv.org.