Monday, May 20, 2024 — For the second year in a row, the University of Michigan Credit Union and the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra will partner to collect used instruments for local school music programs. First unveiled in May 2023, Play It Forward gathered over 30 instruments and $1,000 in donations, and the success of this trial venture prompted the rapidly expanding credit union and nearly 100-year-old orchestra to partner for a second time.
Kicking off on May 15 as part of the opening festivities for UMCU’s newest branch on 340 E Huron St, Play It Forward will run through the month of June, and donations can be made at a number of UMCU branches throughout the Southeast Michigan region (see bottom for more info). This year’s goal is 70 instruments and $10,000 in donations, a total that will ensure a delivery of cleaned and fully repaired instruments to local school music programs.
Following the success of 2023’s inaugural campaign, collected instruments were distributed across Washtenaw County, with school orchestras and ensembles like Ypsilanti Community Middle School Band receiving richly-deserved support. YCMS Band Director Derek Shelton remarks: “Like many places I have been, it seems like my life as band director has been dedicated to working in communities that are disadvantaged and misrepresented. Here at Ypsilanti Middle School, I work with students who are at a critical stage of their lives, the middle school years. [Last year,] I had a bunch of instruments to fix but no idea how to fix them. The Ann Arbor Symphony was the only outside organization that ever helped our band program. They saw our need and they gave us needed support. Play It Forward allowed us to realize our mission of education and creating a better world together for our future generations.”
For A2SO Executive Director Sarah Calderini, Play It Forward is a powerful means of amplifying the Symphony’s mission: “So much of what we do lies in the work of our Learning & Community initiatives, supporting and empowering the musical minds of tomorrow. This partnership with UMCU expands on our successful launch in 2023, and adds even greater impact. The opportunity to give your gently used instrument a second life and place it in the hands of a young musician is an extraordinarily powerful one, and I’d encourage everyone to get involved, support the campaign, and play a meaningful role in enriching the wonderfully vibrant communities we value so deeply.”
UMCU President and CEO Tiffany Ford comments: “Our purpose at UMCU is to amaze our members, our community, and our team by working together for our shared success. We know that if we can help one person reach their dream or put a smile on their face, that person will affect their family and friends and in turn impact the community as a whole. In the spirit of having a positive impact, we are launching the 2nd annual Play It Forward Instrument Drive. Last year, we collected and repaired 29 instruments. This year, we set a goal to collect 70 used instruments to repair and donate to Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti schools.”
More information on the drive can be found by visiting umcu.org.