When Anaheim Elementary School District prioritized bringing comprehensive music education back to the district, Save the Music Foundation made the commitment to match their investment by providing grants of musical instruments to each school, helping to build the elementary band programs across the district. Since 2015, STM has granted to 15 AESD schools, donating more than $500,000 worth of instruments and supplies.
But the support has not only been financial, it has been cultural as well. So when musician Alana Springsteen—no relation to Bruce—reached out to Save the Music Foundation with interest in visiting a school while she is in the area on her concert tour, STM knew just the school.
“We are thrilled to bring Alana Springsteen to Horace Mann Elementary School, where all students have access to music education and are ready to sing along to her hit song, ‘Always Gonna Love You,’” stated Jaclyn Rudderow, Program Director for the Save the Music Foundation. “Music is an integral part of every Anaheim students’ well-founded education and Save the Music is proud to support this effort. Today is a true celebration of music in Anaheim!”
Springsteen performed at Horace Mann Elementary on September 23.
Alana, who was just selected for iHeart Radio’s Digital Artist Integration program this August and has had 1,900,000+ streams of her self-titled EP “Alana Springsteen,” discovered her passion for music at an early age and believes in the power of early exposure to music. She recalls getting her first guitar at the age of seven and enjoys visiting elementary schools with strong music programs when possible.
When Jaclyn from STM began telling Alana about AESD’s commitment to music education, including offering students the opportunity to learn how to play at least six instruments by the sixth grade, she was amazed and immediately knew she wanted to visit one of these schools.
“To have Alana, a successful recording artist, perform for our students is really transformative for them,” said Superintendent Dr. Christopher Downing. “To see first hand where their love for music can take them is empowering.”
Save the Music is committed to completing grants at all 23 schools in AESD through the continued partnership. In 2019, with the support of both the Orange County Community Foundation and Sound Start, a Sound United Foundation, Save the Music has delivered three Core Band Grants to Horace Mann Elementary, Adelaide Price Elementary and Westmont Elementary Schools.
