AthFest Educates!, a year-round effort to share Athens rich musical heritage with local students, recently awarded $15,000 worth of mini-grants and performance grants to area schools and community-based music education programs for the Fall Semester. This latest round of grants brings the total amount donated in 2012 by AthFest Educates! to over $40,000. There will be another series of mini-grants available in January 2013. The dates and procedures for the Winter Semester grants will be announced this December.

Over the past year AthFest Educates! programs enhanced the learning experiences of more than 7000 students in Athens and the surrounding areas. Many of the grants will fund the purchase or repair of musical instruments for students who otherwise would not have access to them:

• Athens-Clarke County Library -$1450 for ukuleles to be used during a series of after-school "Stories and Strums" classes to introduce students between the ages of 5 and 10 to the ukulele.

• Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School -$1000 for guitars and materials to begin a guitar program as part of the International Baccalaureate program.

• Cedar Shoals High School - $1000 for instrument repair and purchase for the jazz ensemble and pep band.

• Chase Street Elementary School- $1000 for the purchase of Orrf instruments.

• Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School- $800 to purchase 4 African style drums for use in the music program and during community performances.

• Social Circle Primary School - $500 which will be used as follows, $280 to purchase instruments for the Primary School music class and $220 to partially pay for a field trip to see the Atlanta Symphony.

• Timothy Road Elementary School- $1000 for the purchase of Orrf instruments.

• Whit Davis Road Elementary School- $1000 for the purchase of Orrf instruments.

Other grants funded scholarships, educational/enrichment programs or other artistic endeavors:

• Alps Road Elementary School- $500 to create a Step Dance Program.

• Barnes Basic Beats- $300 to purchase materials for free drumming lessons for children in need.

• Babies Can’t Wait - $400 to conduct a parent education program that focuses on music therapy. Families and children will explore new ways to communicate through musical play, stimulating language and brain development.

• Cedar Shoals High - $500 to purchase portable barres and costuming materials for their ballet project "This is my Story."

• Clarke County School District - $1,000 for 10-20 scholarships for students to participate in an after school band program, which will be hosted at Chase Street, Cleveland Road, J.J.Harris, Timothy Road and Whit Davis Elementary Schools.

• David C. Barrow Elementary School - $400 to purchase tickets for students to attend a production of the Wizard of Oz at the Morton Theatre. And another $800 to hire a percussionist to assist with a very successful behavioral modification through music program called DRUM Corp. 

• J.J. Harris Elementary School -$600 for materials and food for a school wide "empty bowls" project. Students will create a clay bowl and host a dinner event. Any money raised from this project will be donated to the food bank or other local charity.

To learn more about how to donate to this amazing program or to apply for an AthFest Educates mini grant please visit www.athfest.com.