In Wednesday’s (4/15) Kansas City Star, Robert A. Cronkleton writes, “Liberty Public Schools’ instrumental music program will get a financial boost tonight when the Kansas City Symphony performs a benefit concert. Mary Lou Jones, director of orchestras for Liberty High School, said the symphony stepped forward to raise money for the music program after hearing about the district’s financial difficulties and budget cuts that are coming next year. … Earlier this year, the Liberty school board cut $400,000 from the fine arts program in the 2009-2010 budget. Among other changes: The fifth-grade strings programs will be offered as a before- or after-school activity. Some of the proceeds from the 7 p.m. concert may be used to help defray costs to send band students to Hawaii in June and to let orchestra members attend the Shanghai World Exhibition in China next year. … Steven Murray, education manager for the Kansas City Symphony, said the symphony’s Support School Music program was started in 2003 to help schools raise money for music programs and to heighten awareness of the importance of in-school music programs.”
Posted April 16, 2009
