Culver City Observer -

At the school board meeting on December 11 CCEF Executive Director Leslie Adler and music teachers Paul Witt (CCMS) and Tony Spano (CCHS) announced two extraordinary new grant awards from The Fineshriber Family Foundation.

The first grant is for over $36,000, and demonstrates The Fineshriber Family Foundation’s continuing commitment to the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra program in our elementary schools. This program introduces youngsters to the joyful variety of musical elements, styles, forms, and instruments.

Now in it’s sixth year at CCUSD schools, the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra had been working with students in the first through third grades. This year Kindergarten classes were added to the program.

The second grant from The Fineshriber Family Foundation will transform the musical experiences of students at Culver City Middle School and high school by funding the purchase of nearly 80 new musical instruments at the two schools. This grant award of more than $56,000 will have an enormous positive impact on students by making it possible for all to learn to play instruments and perform in the schools’ many musical ensembles.

Together these grant awards are an enormous boost to CCUSD’s music program..

The thanks began at the presentation Tuesday evening when the high school’s AVPA Flute Ensemble (Melanie Cappoli, Emma Mandzuck, Bererly Li, Lilly Liu and Marlee Blackwell, Student Director) played Sheep May Safely Graze by J.S. Bach.