The Asheville Symphony has launched a financial aid initiative to support students at Asheville Middle School following the recent elimination of the school’s orchestra program, WLOS reported. The effort aims to maintain access to string instruction for affected learners through private lesson subsidies and youth ensemble scholarships.
Under the new assistance program, students can receive coverage for up to 75 percent of private lesson costs, which include weekly 45-minute sessions. Additionally, the symphony is offering scholarships that cover as much as 90 percent of tuition for participation in the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra. Tyson Hamrick, the director of education and youth orchestra, stated that learning an instrument provides unique opportunities for self-expression and teaches valuable lessons regarding hard work and goal achievement through structured experiences like recitals.
Representatives from the symphony acknowledged that these external resources cannot fully replace the lost school-based strings curriculum. However, officials emphasized that the funding allows students to continue playing and developing their musical skills until formal instruction returns to the middle school classroom. This intervention seeks to bridge the gap in music education access created by the district’s decision to cut the program.
For more information, visit wlos.com.