Montclair Orchestra Donates Student Violins To Local Nonprofit

MONTCLAIR, NJ — It was music to their ears.

The Montclair Orchestra recently donated six student violins to benefit Succeed2gether, a local nonprofit that provides low-income students in the Greater Montclair area with free educational opportunities, including tutoring.

According to a statement from the orchestra, Succeed2gether has been offering its students the opportunity to learn violin at no cost, with Aurora Mendez, a Montclair Orchestra Fellow alumna.

The violin lessons have been popular with Succeed2gether’s students; the program usually has a wait list.

According to the orchestra, here’s what inspired the violin donation:

“Succeed2gether recently learned that instruments they had on loan had to be returned, and reached out to The Montclair Orchestra for ways to source instruments for its students. Andre Weker, President of The Montclair Orchestra, was able to coordinate with New Providence, NJ-based K&S Music to procure six student instruments, to ensure that the violin lessons for Succeed2gether’s students would continue without pause. The Montclair Orchestra hopes its gift will help motivate community members to join in and donate toward this important mission.”

In addition to the instruments received from The Montclair Orchestra, Succeed2gether is in need of additional instruments for the increased demand for its program. Anyone who would like to donate a violin or make a donation towards the purchase of an instrument can contact Jacqueline Mroz, program director for Succeed2gether, at jmroz@succeed2gether.org. Interested donors can also visit www.succeed2gether.org, or contact The Montclair Orchestra to coordinate a gift by calling (973) 435-2906, or emailing donate@montclairorchestra.org.

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know about a local organization that should be profiled, contact eric.kiefer@patch.com

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