The Middle School at Parkside music program will have a
brand new piano before the end of the school year, thanks to the generosity of
The Manilow Music Project. Barry Manilow’s charity traditionally donates a new
piano to the local school district in each of the singer’s tour locations.
Manchester School District administrators were contacted by The
Manilow Music Project with the offer in advance of the concert at the Verizon
Wireless Arena in March. But in a city the size of Manchester, which of the 22
schools would receive it?
“We decided that an essay contest would be the best way to
give all of our schools an equal chance to claim the piano,” said
Superintendent Debra Livingston.
Parkside’s music students sent several essays to the school
district office. Many writers described personal experiences with music and how
it has impacted their lives, others authored stories about music in a
children’s book format, and some simply wrote letters explaining why Parkside
deserved a new piano.
One clever entry featured the titles of several Manilow
songs, which include the lines, “Maybe Somewhere
Down the Road our school will get the money we need to buy new instruments.
. .Even Now I can imagine how great
winning this would be.”
The needs of the schools which submitted entries also were
considered.
“Parkside’s band, orchestra and choir share two older model
digital keyboards, and the upright piano is in such disrepair, it can’t even be
tuned anymore,” said Livingston.
Wilson Elementary School submitted a video of its music
teacher and students, set to the music of “Hall of Fame,” by The Script. As
first runner up in the piano giveaway contest, Wilson will receive a portion of
funds collected from Manchester teachers and staff. The Manilow Music Project
provided tickets to Manilow’s March 15 show, and interested concert-goers donated $5 per
ticket to the district. The money raised – more than $1,000 – was set aside to
benefit music education in Manchester.
“The district will give Wilson’s music teacher the funds she
needs to purchase a new portable keyboard,” said Livingston.
The Middle School at Parkside will receive the Yamaha NU1
acoustic/digital hybrid upright, valued at $6,500, in about six weeks.
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