Jefferson County Schools extends its gratitude to the Friends of Music for helping to fund a Fender Rumble 500-watt bass amplifier for the Washington High School music department. The Shepherdstown-based nonprofit group donated $410 toward the purchase of the amplifier for use by the student jazz and percussion ensembles. The school’s band boosters covered the remainder of the cost.
Seniors Jacob Burch (l.) and Nick Doza (r.) are pictured here with the new amplifier in the foreground. They are both members of the WHS Jazz Band.
"Since our 16-year-old amp is not able to be repaired, we have depended on students to bring their own amps to class every day," said WHS music teacher Lisa Hazlett. "This new amp is necessary to provide students with quality equipment for school and community performances, including the Shepherd University Jazz Festival and our Small Business Saturday with the City of Charles Town."
The generous donation is part of a Friends of Music grant program to support music education in Eastern Panhandle schools through the purchase of instruments and music supplies not covered by regular school budgets. The group also provides scholarships to talented local students pursuing music degrees.
The Friends of Music was 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. More information about the organization is available at www.friendswv.org.