Memphis high school receives musical instruments, $40K gift from foundation, Grammy-nominated singer

For decades, Overton High School has been known for its creative and performing arts program. It has a jazz band, marching band, and concert band. It offers orchestra, piano, and dance. Among its alums are Kameron Whalum, a member of Bruno Mars’ band, and K. Michelle, the singer and American television personality.

Now, the Memphis public school has received a significant donation that’s poised to strengthen its emphasis on the arts.

Overton High is receiving a $40,000 investment from the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, with the donation including new musical instruments. The gift was celebrated during a school event on Feb. 27, which featured a performance from Grammy-nominated Argentine Mexican songwriter Noel Schajris, and a Q&A session moderated by Univision morning show host Jessica Rodríguez.

Schajris had partnered with the foundation to make the investment.

"We all know how important art and music are in our lives; in my personal case, it has been a lifesaver, a friend, a love, and even the doctor during many important moments,” Schajris said, in a press release. “This is an important opportunity for the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation to share with those who will undoubtedly carry that torch of hope, the kids, the future generations.”

The donation provides a significant boost for the creative and performing arts program at Overton High, which was implemented to nurture talent within its diverse student population. The program’s wide variety of offerings includes not just music and dance but creative writing, broadcasting, and visual arts, and it provides students with opportunities they might not have otherwise.

To further develop the program, however, it needs additional resources. And the new instruments are expected to grow the school’s music education programming.

“We are beyond thrilled and ecstatic to receive this musical instrument donation and educational resources for the Overton Band Program,” said Juan Valdez, the senior band director at Overton High, in the release. “This generous contribution will allow our students' work to continue to be seen and heard all across the Mid-South.”

Overton High is far from the first school to receive a gift from the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, which was established by The Latin Recording Academy. The foundation provides opportunities through grants, scholarships, and education programs that promote Latin music; and since its inception, it has made more than $9.3 million in donations.

Previous beneficiaries have included schools in cities like Dallas, Detroit, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Antonio. It has also made contributions on an international scale, to schools in places like Buenos Aires, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; and Seville, Spain.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Overton High School in Memphis receives $40K gift from major foundation