Instruments donated to south end schools
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News GBMS Band Director Susan Smithey checks out the flute.

Like kids in a candy store, local middle school band directors excitedly sifted through musical instruments piled onstage at Pensacola Junior College's Ashmore Auditorium Sept. 25.

Nearly a quarter of a million dollars worth of music equipment was distributed to all 17 middle schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties by the nonprofit organization Bravo for Kids. Gulf Breeze Middle School (GBMS) and Woodlawn Beach Middle School both netted four instruments and Holley- Navarre Middle School received two. Instrument donations were based on school population.

"We all feel very lucky to be included," said GBMS Band Director Susan Smithey.

Smithey's program received a baritone, a baritone saxophone, a clarinet and a flute. Woodlawn Beach received a baritone saxophone, an oboe, a bass clarinet and a flute and Holley Navarre Middle received a tuba and a clarinet.

"This is a whole lot better," said third year band student and GBMS eighth grader Kayla Smith as she fingered a few notes on the brand new Yamaha clarinet.

Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News Bailey Schmidt, foreground, tries out the baritone as Matt Tighe plays the baritone saxophone donated by Bravo for KIds. The non-profit organization donated a quarter million dollars worth of music equipment to 17 middle schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.

"On her old one she'd turn blue in the face trying to blow hard enough to make notes," GBMS Assistant Band Director Patty Heath said of the young clarinet player. "The new one's easier because it works the way it's supposed to."

In late 2006 Bravo for Kids was awarded a grant of $113,335 by Impact 100, a Pensacolabased philanthropic organization, organizer Bill Dollarhide wrote in a press release. AIG Insurance and JME Realty donated more than $20,000 and Escambia County also donated $20,000. Dollarhide's Music and Schmidt's Music then purchased the instruments at wholesale prices. This is the fourth year Bravo for Kids has donated instruments to local schools and the first year the organization included the Santa Rosa County School District.

"It's very heartwarming to be able to do this," Bill Dollarhide said. "I know schools will use this equipment for 20 or 30 years. It's just a moving experience to have people give me over $130,000 and be able to give these instruments back to students."

Smithey said school band programs typically provide larger instruments such as tubas, baritone saxophones and French horns to band members. Smaller instruments are usually left up to the individual students. With the addition of the donated instruments, the band program can be expanded to other students who might not have been able to participate previously, Smithey said.