ST. GEORGE – So you wanted to join the middle school or high school band yet couldn’t because of a lack of instruments or some general inability to get that trumpet or flute you needed. Instead of having your taste for music satisfied in band, you ended up signing up with the choir instead.
Corbie Campbell, 16, of St. George, said he’s seen this very thing happen and wants to provide a way to help kids who want to get into band but don’t have the instruments they need. Campbell, a trumpet player himself, also happens to be an active Boy Scout on the cusp of earning his Eagle rank – the highest rank in the Boy Scouts organization.
One of the requirements for becoming an Eagle Scout is to show leadership and organization skills through a service project that benefits others.
Seeing a need for instruments, Campbell made that the focus of this Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project.
Working with the Washington County School District Foundation for Students, Campbell is collecting used musical instruments, as well as financial donations for new and used instruments.
As of May 4, Campbell has collected 15 instruments of various types. These include trumpets, drum sets, flutes, a piano, and even an organ – any kind of instrument can be donated.
“I’ll take as many (instruments) as I can get,” Campbell said.
Campbell also said that, as far as the leadership aspects of the project goes, it has helped him to develop the “courage to ask anyone out there” if they could help spread the word of the project of donate in some capacity.
“Corbie has been taking the lead in all of this,” said Robert Schmidt, band director at Desert Hills Middle School.
Schmidt’s class is currently one of the beneficiaries on Campbell’s instrument mission, though the instruments can be applied wherever needed.
“There’s always a need for students to have instruments to use,” Schmidt said.
How to donate
Persons interested in donating instruments or making a financial donation toward the purchase of new or used instruments can contact Campbell at 435-632-5463 to make arrangements.
Checks must be made out to the WCSD Foundation for Students. Then financial donations can also be earmarked toward a specific school within the school district.
The instrument drive ends May 24.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @MoriKessler
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.
Way to go Corbie! Good job, and good luck with it. I don’t have an instrument to donate, and money is tight, but I will be sending a check to WCSD Foundation. It just won’t be quite as big as I’d like it to be.