Tune It Up! New Musical Instruments Donated to Crittenden

With all of the emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, some institutions want to ensure that the arts get their fair share of attention.

Fidelity Investment surprised Crittenden Middle School students on Friday, Sept. 13 with instruments valued at $21,000. The donation was made as part of Fidelity’s ongoing effort to support music programs in public schools across the country.

The students received the new instruments—two cellos, two violas, five flutes, two tenor saxophones, a baritone saxophone and a double French horn—during a special performance featuring the Crittenden Middle School jazz band and orchestra. 

"With the ongoing growth of our music program, our small instrument inventory couldn’t meet the demands of those students who were in need of a school instrument," said Arlene Miyata, the school’s music teacher. "With this donation, we can meet that demand and help supply school instruments to those students participating in our Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Bands and Orchestras."

Fidelity worked with non-profit The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation (MHOF) to select the Mountain View middle school, which serves approximately 600 students, grades sixth to eighth.

The foundation evaluates the instrumental needs of each school music program and then facilitates the purchase and delivery of the instruments on behalf of Fidelity. To date, Fidelity has donated more than 2,400 new instruments, valued at over $2.5 million, to schools across the country. 

"Learning to play an instrument can be a valuable learning experience, teaching many life-long skills. We hope these new instruments will help bring more music into their classrooms and help ensure a bright future for students here for years to come," said Aaron Argabright, vice president and branch manager of Fidelity Investments’ new Mountain View Investor Center.