Friends of Music has donated $300 to help the Hedgesville Middle School band program buy a new marimba.
The marimba is a Majestic 4.3-Octave Deluxe Series model with Padauk Bars. Its total cost was $3,055. The school's band director, Owen Funk, said the remaining funds for it came from the school's band account, which is sustained by fundraising and requested faculty senate monies.
The accompanying photo shows some of the school's students with the new instrument.
Funk said the new marimba was needed because the school's previous mallet instruments were over 30 to 40 years old and "well past their service life." He said the new marimba will be serviceable for the next 15 to 30 years.
Funck said his students "have been thrilled" with the new marimba. "Not only has it increased the number of students able to play at one time, but the students line up in rotation for their chance to play it during class sessions. They are very proud of it."
The donation is part of a Friend's grant program to support music education in Berkeley and Jefferson 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 the additional funding support of Ecolab for this program.
The Friends of Music organization is a Shepherdstown-based, non-profit organization founded in 1999 to support and promote musical excellence. It supports the 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 the Friends is available at www.friendswv.org.