Music For Minors Foundation, Inc.

An update on the two students below: Both young men have been chosen to attend the INTERLOCHEN summer saxophone intensive camp in 2024! Interlochen is one of the most prestigious music camps in the country. One of its statistics is that 13% of the musicians in the nation's major orchestras are Interlochen alumni. We look forward to hearing all about the camp, and watching the amazing things these two students will achieve!

OUR ANNUAL MEETING, APRIL 2022

Music For Minors Foundation held its annual meeting on Thursday, April 21, 2022. Two of our current students were asked to perform some duets at this meeting to entertain our donors. Both of these students received instruments and private lesson scholarships through our programs. They each received a superior rating at both the district and state Solo and Ensemble competition, and both made the Lee County Honor Band last fall.

Their marching band, the Fort Myers High School Green Wave, was asked to perform in the New Years Day Parade in London, England on January 1, 2023. After their performance, Music For Minors surprised each of them with a check for $2,000 to help them with some of the cost to go on this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were thrilled to be able to make this dream come true for them!

Jonathan, on the left in the photo, is the Drum Major for the band, and will lead the band in the parade!

OUR 2021 RECIPIENT OF THE DOROTHY FRIEDENREICH COLLEGE MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP!

In May 2021, Music For Minors was delighted to present a check for $1,500 to Vanessa, this year's recipient of the Dorothy Friedenreich College Music Scholarship. Vanessa received a clarinet from us when she was in eighth grade, as well as one of our private lesson scholarships. Even after graduation from our program, she continued to work hard, and as a senior this year, she won 1st Chair Clarinet in the Collier County Honor band for 11-12 graders. She will attend Florida Atlantic University in the fall, majoring in music education, with plans of becoming a band director. We cannot think of a more deserving student to receive this award! Congratulations and best wishes, Vanessa!

(Pictured, from left to right: Don Rhynard, President, Vanessa, and Dorothy Friedenreich, Founder of Music For Minors Foundation)

Once again, for the 2021-2022 school year, several band and orchestra students were selected to be in the Collier and Lee County Honor Bands and Orchestras this year, proving that having one's own instrument to practice, and in many cases, private lessons, leads to continued success! Congratulations to all for their hard work and success!

In August, 2019, one of our students, Carlos, who received both a clarinet and private lesson scholarships from us, won a spot in the Naples Youth Philharmonic Orchestra! We are so proud of his hard work and success!

Music For Minors was thrilled to help another of our students Nancy, achieve a once-in-a-lifetime dream to march in the Macy's Great American Marching Band on Thanksgiving Day, 2018! She had to apply and submit an audition, and was later accepted to march in the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Music For Minors donated $1000 to help cover some of the costs of transportation to NYC, food, and lodging for the days leading up to the parade. Our mission is to make every one of our student's musical dreams and goals come true!

Nancy with the Macy's Banner,

and a patch from the Parade!