Dec 15, 2022
The Rotary Club of Shepherdstown was honored to support $2,500 towards the purchase of good quality band chairs for this deserving band program At Eagle School Intermediate (ESI). On December 14, 2022 Shepherdstown Rotary presented the All-Star Band with a check of $2,500. In addition, they have donated several used instruments from generous Rotarians. Music Director Matt Blom and Assistant Music Director Paige Kozak are truly dedicated to ESI All Star Band giving of their time before, during planning periods, and after school for the benefit of these wonderful kids.
The Eagle School All-Star Band program includes before school, during school, and after school instructional time in an effort to best serve the musical needs of our students. Eagle School music ensembles is currently offered to 4th and 5th graders. They currently serve 160+ students, 33% percent of the 440 eligible students or 25% of the whole school(630 including 3rd grade). This does not take into account the over 200 students who have shown significant interest in participating, but whose families do not have the means necessary for them to be members of the program because of transportation and/or the cost of an instrument. Eagle School Intermediate is a Title I school and the music ensembles have no allocated budget from the county or state. For general music class, each year their budget from the county is about $1,000, which is only enough to purchase about one quality student instrument. Funds for the program over the past 5 years have largely come from fundraising, donations, and grants that have allowed them to grow school instruments inventory to almost 60 instruments. The greatest need for the program this year was quality long-lasting music chairs for our students to sit in for rehearsals, lessons, and concerts. They have been using folding chairs for the past 5 years that quickly deteriorated.
Adults pictured from left is Assistant Band Director Paige Kozak, Band Director Matthew Blom, along with Shepherdstown Rotarians Austin Slater and James King. The remaining are ESI Band members.