News…

WHO: The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH) and Save The Music Foundation.

WHAT: The Save The Music Foundation will take its 2019 fall tour of West Virginia middle schools that have been awarded matching grants to receive an average value of $38,000 in musical instruments and ongoing program management and materials through the program. In attendance will be Randall Reid-Smith, curator of the Department of Arts, Culture and History, department staff and Chiho Feindler, senior director of programs and policy for the Save The Music Foundation.

WHERE: Poca Middle School, Poca, Putnam County; Andrew Jackson Middle School, Charleston, Kanawha County; and Madison Middle School, Madison, Boone County.

WHEN: Presentations will take place Thursday, Oct. 17 at
8:30 a.m.         Poca Middle School
9:30 a.m.         Andrew Jackson Middle School
11 a.m.            Madison Middle School

WHY: The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, through a partnership with the Save The Music Foundation and matching monetary donors, is able to award grants for new musical instruments to any traditional West Virginia public elementary or middle school that has a certified music teacher and wants to build its instrumental music program. The Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring that music instruction is a core component to a complete education. Since 1997, the foundation has partnered with more than 1,960 public schools in 233 school districts, giving 2.6 million children the tools and confidence to excel in academics and in life.

CONTACT: Bethany Cline, deputy curator for the WVDACH, at (304) 558-0220 or Bethany.K.Cline@wv.gov.

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