News Summary
J.T. Moore Middle School in Nashville has received a $50,000 donation from the Ramsey Foundation to support its concert band program, which faced elimination due to budget cuts. The donation will help secure a part-time band director and contribute to the ongoing ‘BAND TOGETHER’ fundraising campaign, which aims to raise a total of $92,000 for a full-time band teacher. The community has rallied to support music education, highlighting its importance for youth development and creativity.
Nashville, TN – J.T. Moore Middle School has received a $50,000 donation from the Ramsey Foundation to support its concert band program, following concerns about the program’s potential elimination. The lead singer of the popular country band Old Dominion, Matthew Ramsey, who co-founded the foundation, will present the check on Tuesday, June 24, at the school, located at 4425 Granny White Pike.
This financial support comes in response to an announcement made in March, indicating that the long-standing band program at J.T. Moore Middle School would be cut starting in the 2025-2026 school year due to budget constraints. The decision to eliminate the program sparked significant concern among parents and students, leading to the launch of the “BAND TOGETHER” fundraising campaign aimed at saving the concert band.
With the help of the Ramsey Foundation’s generous donation, the “BAND TOGETHER” campaign has successfully raised over $65,000 to date. This funding will allow the school to hire a part-time band director for the upcoming school year. However, campaign organizers still aim to reach a total fundraising goal of $92,000 by June 30 in order to secure a full-time band teacher for the students.
The check presentation is scheduled to take place at 10:00 a.m., and students and supporters of the band program are encouraged to attend the event wearing red or J.T. Moore shirts to show their solidarity and commitment to the music program. Organizers of the fundraising campaign, Kate Cropp and Janet Macdonald, along with school principal Dr. Gary Hughes, will be present to accept the donation.
The Ramsey Foundation’s contribution comes as a significant relief to many students, parents, and community members who understand the impact that a music education can have on youth development, creativity, and academic performance. The concert band program at J.T. Moore Middle School has a rich history and has been a source of pride for the community. It has provided students with the opportunity to engage in music performance, teamwork, and discipline through their involvement in band.
Funding cuts in public education have led to challenges for arts programs across the nation, and J.T. Moore Middle School is no exception. The “BAND TOGETHER” campaign was initiated as a grassroots effort to address this particular issue. By mobilizing parents, teachers, and local businesses, the campaign has underscored the importance of music education in schools and cultivated a strong community support system dedicated to preserving the arts.
The successful fundraising efforts and the Ramsey Foundation’s donation highlight the positive impact that community engagement and support can have in addressing budgetary challenges faced by schools. The upcoming check presentation serves not only as a celebration of this accomplishment but also as a rallying point for further fundraising initiatives to ensure the long-term sustainability of the band program.
As the date for the check presentation approaches, anticipation builds among students and supporters alike. The school community looks forward to continuing the legacy of the concert band and fostering a love for music in future generations of young musicians.
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Additional Resources
- News Channel 5
- Wikipedia: Music Education
- Citizen Tribune
- Google Search: Music Education Funding
- Tennessean
- Google Scholar: Impact of Music Education
- WKRN
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Arts Education
- KCRG
- Google News: Band Programs
Author: HERE Nashville
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