Local non-profit donates instruments to music programs who need it

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - A Colorado non-profit, "Bringing Music to Life," is collecting gently used band and orchestra instruments to refurbish and donate to schools across the state.

"We tell every single kiddo, 'we will get you an instrument,' and it’s because of Bringing Music to Life," said Horizon middle school band director Melanie Hawthorne.

Bringing Music to Life donated instruments last year to Grand Peak Academy, Horizon Middle School and Soaring Eagles Community School in Colorado Springs. This year is the 15th time it has collected and donated instruments.

“I grew up very poor, and I didn’t have access to a lot of materialistic things, so music to me growing up, playing the clarinet was my outlet. My emotional outlet." Hawthorne said. "For kids to not get that opportunity is not okay, so to be able to have an instrument, and to have access to that, opens up so many doors."

The organization said it has donated over 8,700 instruments across 330 Colorado schools in its history. It estimates those instruments have helped over 20,000 students.

The music drive ends Saturday, March 29. Bringing Music to Life has two donation sites in Colorado Springs at both Meeker Music locations, and one site in Pueblo at Marck Time Music.