Music programs get $6K gift from jazz, soul festival
SALEM — The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is donating $6,000 to local music education.
The Salem Public Schools will use a $5,000 donation to fund a conductor-in-residence for the three middle school jazz bands and the Salem High School jazz band, as well as $1,000 in scholarships to graduating members of the high school jazz band, said Cynthia Napierkowski, coordinator of music for the Salem schools.
The Jazz and Soul Festival doubled its $2,500 donation that it gave the Salem schools last year, and is also donating $1,000 this fall to the Plummer Home for Boys' music initiatives.
"We are very pleased that in these difficult economic times," Matt Caruso, the festival's director of community relations, said in a press release, "we are able to stay true to our mission of supporting music education in Salem by doing our small part to ensure that music remains an important part of the school curriculum."
The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival was held in August at the Salem Willows.
For more information about the Salem Jazz Soul Festival, visit www.salemjazzsoul.org.
— Amanda McGregor
