Retired Akron Public Schools teacher Marilyn Stroud is the matriarch and coordinator of the Music Alive program. The program just donated its 325th instrument to Akron Public Schools students. (Photo courtesy: The Summit)
On Monday, March 13, Akron Board of Education accepted an additional five reconditioned musical instruments from the Summit’s (WAPS–91.3FM) Music Alive program, bringing the total donated to the school district to 325. The Summit has solicited, secured, refurbished and donated musical instruments to students within Akron Public Schools since 2008.
Music Alive is an instrument recycling program where the station solicits second-hand musical instruments from listeners. The instruments are restored locally by Taylor Band & Orchestra and then distributed to the district, that gets them in the hands of students throughout Akron Public Schools.
“Music Alive gives new life to older instruments and helps provide musical instruments for students who may not have thought it possible to afford an instrument,” said Nathaniel Duvuvuei, coordinator of Fine Arts for Akron Public Schools. “Many would have remained tucked away in an attic or under a bed somewhere and never played again. The program has already touched hundreds of lives and will continue to impact lives in the years to come.”
Music Alive program partners include Akron Symphony Orchestra, and Taylor Band & Orchestra, who have donated hundreds of hours to the restoration of the instruments. Retired Akron Public Schools teacher and Music Alive Coordinator, Marilyn Stroud, is the matriarch of the program. “I was the oldest of six girls and never had a chance to learn how to play an instrument, so this is my way of paying it forward to all these students in APS,” said Stroud. In 2015, the radio station launched the program for the remainder of its broadcast coverage area, including Stark and Mahoning counties.
The Summit 91.3 FM Akron/Canton, and 90.7 FM Youngstown/Warren and western Pennsylvania, is locally owned and operated member-supported public radio. The Summit plays a wide variety of music, including Rock, Pop, Folk, Acoustic, Local, Reggae and much more. The Summit also streams The 330, Rock & Recovery and KIDJAM! Radio both online and through smartphone apps.
