HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL: News-Herald story highlights musical donations

NOTE: News-Herald Newspapers' Reporter Jessica Strachan recently published the following story about The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation and Music Rising's presentation of new instruments to Hoover Middle School.

Hoover Middle School has received new musical instruments, thanks to The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and Music Rising.

The foundation gives to music programs around the country that are losing funding and to bands in underserved schools with minimal budgets, replacing some instruments that are more than 30 years old.

Jim Bergler, Hoover Middle School’s band director and longtime music leader in the district, applied for the program and said it allows more students to be able to play and experience the benefits of music education.

“Through the generous donation of the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and Music Rising, our band students and our school have been given more than school instruments,” Bergler said. “They have been given a greater sense of dignity and pride in their school band program.”

Many of the instruments have been around since Bergler began teaching at the middle school 25 years ago, he said.

“They have served us well, but it is time for them to be officially retired and replaced with some new instruments,” Bergler said.

Approximately 150 students in the seventh and eighth grades take part in band each year and they perform in school concerts, band competitions, solo and ensemble festivals, school assemblies, parades and other events in the community.

The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation was inspired by the 1995 motion picture “Mr. Holland’s Opus” and founded by Michael Kamen, who composed the music for the movie and several others.

In the last 20 years, over 20,000 instruments have been donated to over 1,360 schools across the country.

“Learning music in school is a way to engage kids and give them something that makes them better students and better people,” said Felice Mancini, president and CEO of the foundation. “They deserve every tool available to help them receive a quality education, and we want to ensure that music is in that toolbox.”

For more information, visit www.mhopus.org.