ASO, Salvation Army partner for the Final Blow
The Salvation Army, in collaboration with the Akron Symphony Orchestra and the City of Akron Parks & Recreation, will be collecting used musical instruments for students of its Music Conservatory at the July 23 Symphony performance at Hardesty Park.
“We’re encouraging everyone to dig in the back of their closets for that old band instrument that’s collecting dust and bring it to the free Hardesty Park performance,” said Major Kevin E. Jackson, Summit County Area Services Corps Officer and Area Coordinator.
Akron Symphony Music Director Christopher Wilkins will arrange for everyone in the audience with an instrument to play a “stinger” note at the end of the evening’s performance. Everyone will be able to play along with the orchestra for one last note – the “Final Blow” – before donating the instrument to The Salvation Army.
“We’ll have our truck open at the end of the evening so folks can donate their instruments to our program, enabling a child to learn and play music who otherwise would not be able to afford it,” explained Jackson.
More than 100 children are enrolled in the Army’s Billy Booth Arts & Science Factory summer enrichment program through August and all participants attend choir, music theory, ORFF (pitched and non-pitched percussion), keyboard, and brass lessons and the need for instruments is great.
“We’re hoping the community will step up and help us build out our orchestra,” Jackson said. “We need brass instruments of all kinds, strings and woodwinds, too.”
As Susan Flowers, Chair of The Salvation Army of Summit County’s Advisory Board said, “How else can a rusty high school band member get to play with the Akron Symphony?”
If you are unable to attend the performance, used instruments may be dropped off during business hours at the Army’s offices at 190 S. Maple St. in Akron.
Photo caption: Miss Kierstin Jenkin’s Brass Class of The Salvation Army Billy Booth’s Arts & Science Factory show Maestro Christopher Wilkins their cornet skills Back row, left to right: Major Kevin E. Jackson, Braylon Burros, Jaydon McGhee, Akron Symphony Conductor and Music Director Christopher Wilkins, Nasir Clark, Sy’Aire Smith, Miss Jenkins; Seated, left to right: Treston Burton, Sophia Lutz, Santana Golden and Malachi Nurse.