Pomona Unified receives $45,000 in donated instruments

Photo Courtesy: PUSD
Seated in the center are Pomona Unified School District Board Member Frank Guzman, left, Superintendent Richard Martinez, Fairplex Vice President Dale Coleman and Board Member Dr. Roberta Perlman, who celebrated the new musical instruments, which were donated to the District’s middle schools and high schools by Live Nation and Fairplex on July 30.

By Juliette Funes

Pomona – Nearly 100 band members from Pomona Unified’s high schools and middle schools were surprised with $45,000 in musical instruments – from oboes and saxophones to string basses and chrome chimes.  The students will be able to use their new instruments during their impressive performances, including their next big showcase at Pomona Day at the Los Angeles County Fair at Fairplex in September.

Thanks to a partnership between entertainment company, Live Nation, and Fairplex, more than 20 instruments were donated to band students at Diamond Ranch, Pomona, Garey and Ganesha high schools; and Fremont Academy, Lorbeer, Emerson and Simons middle schools, during a surprise ceremony on July 30 at Diamond Ranch High School.

“We are grateful to these two great partners for providing our students with this much-needed equipment, enabling us to bolster our music and arts programs and inspire students to pursue their creative talents,” said Board of Education President Andrew Wong. “We look forward to hearing the wonderful music they’ll be playing with these new instruments.”

The donation was made to underscore the importance of preserving music programs in public schools, according to Dale Coleman, a Pomona High School alum and Vice President of Business Growth and Development at Fairplex, who coordinated the donation.

Donated instruments include violins, bell stands, standard basses, clarinets and trombones.

“Music is a passion of these students and it such an important fabric of society and our culture,” said PUSD Superintendent Richard Martinez. “We are honored to be the recipients of this generous donation of instruments, many of which are unique and expensive, but essential for our band programs to continue growing and thriving.”