That oboe or keyboard may be gathering dust in a closet or gathering knick-knacks as a makeshift table. Wherever that used musical instrument resides, the Rochester Education Foundation wants you to donate it this year while you're at the Rochester International Jazz Festival. "We can put your musical instrument to work and help changea child's life," says Patricia Braus, executive director of Rochester Education Foundation. It's with these young people where the future of jazz (and other music) resides.
The Foundation will once again have a booth this year at the XRIJF, collecting used instruments and musical materials to donate to city students. The REF has donated more than 1,100 musical instruments to be used by city students since launching its Spring for Music Opportunities program a decade ago. The festival has become a pathway for donation of hundreds of musical instruments for Rochester city school students for the past six years. Donors give musical instruments, music stands, sheet music and other musical materials to REF at the booth.
The booth is located this year in the Merchandise Tent on Gibbs Street through a generous donation by M&T Bank. Donations can be dropped off any evening from 5-8 pm and will be staffed by volunteers from M&T Bank, the Rochester City School District music department, REF staff and others. The program provides donors with a tax receipt for their donations.
You're not using it … give it (and a Rochester student) a new lease on life and the ability to do what it was built for … make music!
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