This project aims to decrease the financial barriers to engaging with music education and ensemble participation in DeKalb County public schools. For many low income families, the costs of renting a quality instrument pose a major challenge. Because the KSO’s mission is “to engage, educate, and enrich the community through music,” they seek to ensure that all students interested in music have a chance to learn an instrument of their choice. By working to support and uplift young musicians, they help them find new passions and engage in a music community that can extend from their school to the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra – as many of the KSO's musicians come from DeKalb High School and Sycamore High School – and beyond to their participation in other regional musical ensembles and to a lifelong appreciation of music. To donate an instrument, please contact us Deb Loitz at musicoutreach@kishorchestra.org to make arrangements to drop off your donation or bring your instrument to the ticket table at an upcoming KSO Concert at the NIU Boutell Memorial Concert Hall.
The CYF Grant from the Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary club will go towards repairing more instruments and growing their donation campaign for collecting more instruments in the future. The Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary Club is proud to help the KSO make a difference in the lives of children in DeKalb County!