The Preludes Steering Committee and first grade class at Paul Banks wish to thank the businesses and individuals who provided us with a beautiful birch plywood storage cabinet to store our violins. Spenard Building Supply gave us a generous discount on lumber and supplies necessary to build the storage cabinet; Conrad Schaad donated the cost for lumber and supplies; Derek Bynagle donated many hours to build the cabinet; and Amso’s Carpets donated carpet to line the shelves.

The Preludes program, under the auspices of the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra and with the cooperation of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, provides every first grade student at Paul Banks three half hour periods a week of group violin instruction. This program is funded solely by donations from businesses, organizations and countless individuals who have supported the initiation of the Preludes violin instruction program this fall. The students’ enthusiasm and the increased focus necessary to learn the multitude of skills required to play a violin are a testament to the program’s success.

We hope to keep expanding the program to include every kindergarten through second grade child over the next few years. We will keep you posted on our growth. Our current goal is to purchase another set of violins in order for all 60 first graders to perform in ensemble this spring.

We are blessed to live in a community that supports the arts and our mission to create better learners and citizens through instrumental music instruction and ensemble performance.

Lyn Maslow and Linda Reinhart on behalf

of Preludes Steering Committee

and First Grade Staff and Students