(From left) Eighth-grade students Niel Suee Labalan, Braylin Davignon, and Leah Blake at Whaler’s Cove Assisted Living in New Bedford. (Photo Courtesy Acushnet Public Schools)
Press Release
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paula J. Bailey, Principal Michelle Silvia and Music Director Brian Shanbrun are pleased to announce that the Ford Middle School Music Program was recently awarded grant funding from the Peter R. Marsh Foundation.
The $1,000 grant was awarded in December as part of the Peter R. Marsh Foundation Middle School Music Grant Program. The program supports the efforts of teachers to lead their students to a fruitful life of behavioral kindness and emotional wellness by nurturing empathy and compassion through community service, and an inspiration to become more accomplished musicians.
Grant funds will be used for transportation services to Whaler’s Cove Assisted Living, where students will perform for residents twice this school year. Funds will also be used to purchase sheet music for students to perform specifically for the seniors.
“On behalf of the entire district, I would like to extend our gratitude to the Peter R. Marsh Foundation,” said Superintendent Bailey. “The Ford Middle School Music Program has been essential in our efforts to integrate creativity into our curriculum and it allows our students to give back to their community through performance.”
Each year, under the direction of Music Director Shanbrun, Ford Middle School Music Program students participate in a variety of community outreach events including school concerts, concerts at the public library, sing-along style concerts at senior living establishments and more.
For their most recent event, on December 19, students performed a Holiday Chorus Concert for the residents of Whaler’s Cove Assisted Living in New Bedford. During the event, students also served refreshments and shared in conversation with the residents.
Students previously performed at a Toys for Tots event, held in December, where local music groups had the opportunity to showcase their talents and bring holiday cheer to the public while contributing to the toy donation drive.
The FMS Chorus performs annually at the Town of Acushnet’s Veterans Day ceremony and leads the sing-along at the town’s holiday display lighting. The Chorus has also performed the National Anthem for the Providence Bruins, participated in the American Young Voices concerts, and at the Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s All-State conference.
To learn more about the Peter R. Marsh Foundation Middle School Music Grant Program, visit https://www.prmfoundation.org
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