Music4Life receives "Friend of Music Award"

Music4Life™ has received the coveted “Friend of Music Award” from the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA). The award was presented upon nomination by the the WMEA’s Sno-King Region and by Immediate Past WMEA President Scott Barnes of Edmonds Public Schools.

“This award recognizes … an organization that has distinguished themselves by supporting music education in a significant way,” Barnes says. 

“You are a most deserving recipient of this recognition … Thank you for helping to make a difference in the lives of students through music education.”

It’s the second time in five years that Music4Life has received the award. The WMEA is comprised of music teachers at secondary schools, colleges and universities from throughout the state of Washington.

Music4Life provides musical instruments to participating schools for students in need. The Seattle-based non-profit acquires instruments from adults who no longer need them, gets them repaired (if possible) and then provides them to participating public school districts for use by students in need. 

Music4Life operates programs supporting Bremerton, Edmonds, Everett, Highline, Mukilteo, Northshore, Seattle and Shoreline Public Schools. The program acquires used instruments from those who understand that their highest and best use is to put them back into play. Music4Life also accepts donations to help pay for instrument repairs.

“The sole purpose of Music4life is to help families across the very first barrier they encounter, the acquisition of the musical instrument in the first place,” says Music4Life Co-Founder / President David Endicott. 

“Even in today’s recovering economy, many families can’t even afford to rent a musical instrument. In our minds, it’s as much an educational program as it is an instrumental music program.”

Music4Life enjoys the support of notable music advocates and other community leaders. Gerard Schwarz, world-renowned conductor laureate of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, has endorsed the program, saying, 

“This wonderful program begins with children in elementary school at a time when, if they’re interested and talented in any way, they have the greatest chance of success. Many people tell me of the impact that direct knowledge of instrumental music has had on their lives. We intend to give this advantage to all our children.”

Music4Life™ is supported in part by grants from First Choice Health; 4Culture (formerly the Seattle-King County Arts Commission); the Knossos Foundation; the Hazel Miller Foundation; various local Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis clubs; the Highline Schools Foundation; as well as by the law firm of Garvey Schubert Barer; Seattle Symphony Orchestra; the Seattle Folklife Festival; Rafael Carrabba Violins; Lamar Advertising; Encore Media Group; GMA Research; Cascade Symphony Orchestra; Randy Oxford Entertainment; the Stacy Jones Band; the Edmonds Center for the Arts; Kennelly Keys Music stores; Hammond Ashley Violins in Issaquah; Ted Brown Music; Bischofberger Violins; Olsen Violins; InMove.com and others.

To donate an instrument to Music4Life, contact info@Music4Life.org , call 206-409-3275 or go to the Website.