By Katie Knapp Schubert
Omaha, NE – Band members at Omaha's Norris Middle School have new musical instruments thanks to a $20,000 grant.
The Norris band was presented with new instruments at a school assembly Wednesday. It was a surprise to band students--they were told to perform two songs as part of the end-of-year adjudication. School administrators and representatives from investment group Fidelity presented the new instruments following the final song.
Norris principal Ruben Cano says the equipment includes new clarinets, flutes, and a baritone saxophone, something the school's music program has never had. He says the cost of a baritone sax alone is nearly $5,000.
Cano says more students will be able to learn and practice music because of the new instruments. He says the school has found that students in band do better in the classroom.
The grant funding for the new instruments came from the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation.