A spectacular demonstration of collaboration, cooperation and commitment.
An
effective partnership between the district, music boosters and the Southwest community.
The District allocated $8000 for the project and lent us another $5000 so we could get
the piano sent to New York last year. District capital funding is allocating
$15,000 for the asbestos removal and door enlargement. These are the less glamorous parts but vital to the project.
I think it’s a powerful symbol of
the arts renaissance that is happening in Minneapolis. When Ruth LeMay
started she was the only choir director in the district. Next year
Roosevelt is adding vocal music so every high school will offer instrumental
and vocal music. Southwest is on track to take our place alongside some of the biggest
vocal programs in the state.
When the district purchased
these Steinway pianos in the 30’s or 40’s, Minneapolis and St. Paul were the biggest
games in town. The All-State choirs were made up almost entirely of city
students. Then the cuts happened and the pianos got destroyed.
Thankfully someone stored them instead of disposing of them.
Maybe something like: The
Steinway Project represents the best of what we hope to accomplish in
supporting arts education. School, booster groups, district and community leaders partnered with
parents and businesses to restore a world class instrument for the Southwest
community.
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