It was an incredible year for Hungry for Music in 2021!  We distributed nearly 1,200 music instruments to over 100 programs across the United States and abroad. Thank you to our Operations Manager, Dawn Nelson, for breaking down the donations by instrument.

Here is the breakdown of music instruments donated by Hungry for Music in 2021:

The support that Hungry for Music receives from the D’Addario Foundation is amazing.  They supply all our luthiers and repair folks with strings and drumheads for the instruments that flow through Hungry for Music and also help us locate programs that can utilize our services.  We are very grateful to have them as a partner. 

Over the years, Hungry for Music has accumulated several dozen violins, violas, and cellos that are beyond a beginner instrument.  We needed to find advanced students with the financial need who would benefit from an advanced instrument.  Because D’Addario has supported hundreds of programs, they are able to help us locate the kids who can benefit from intermediate or professional model instruments.  We began this partner program by donating two violins and a cello.  The cello went to Angie Guo, who studies at the Harmony Program in New York, NY.

Angie started learning the cello as an elementary school student at one of our partner schools in Chinatown in Manhattan. Currently, she is in 7th grade and is a member of a string trio through the Harmony Program's "All Star" Chamber Music Program. Through this opportunity, she is studying with a cellist from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and is preparing for an audition for the Interlochen Arts Camp. Last summer, she attended the Manhattan School of Music's summer program. Angie is currently using a lower-level cello that we have provided to her. Playing on a higher-level cello will significantly help Angie at this stage in her musical journey.

Hungry for Music began this project of donating advanced instruments last year when Sujoy Spencer, a music teacher we supported for over 20 years when she was teaching at Mexican orphanages, reached out to us about a dedicated young violinist. The young lady has aspirations to further her music education in college next year and needed a quality instrument.  Hungry for Music was able to donate a John Juzek violin, and you can hear Lexie play “The Entertainer” here.

The last donation of 2021 was over 20 brass and woodwinds donated to Holbrook Elementary School in Hamtramck, MI.

Words in Support of Our Mission

"What a joy and encouragement it was for SWAN: Scaling Walls a Note at a Time to receive two exquisite, top-quality drum kits (complete with covers) from Hungry for Music!  We exclusively serve students affected by parental incarceration and will loan the drums to our students.  They will be thrilled and inspired to receive them.  Each donation is a solid investment in a child's life who needs resources to scale walls of adversity, develop resiliency and develop their gifts and talents to succeed."  

~ Diana Vuolo, SWAN in Lyndell, PA.

"These kids are just so happy. Zyen was a hot mess during Covid. I put that brand new viola in his hands and it was like a different kid. He showed up early, he sat up tall, he knew his notes and was so excited to be there. This is all because of the instrument." 

~ Janice Pohl, music teacher, Campus International in Cleveland

"Volunteering with Hungry for Music has been a very rewarding experience for me this last year and a half, and I'm glad we could collect so many donations. My records indicate that with your help coordinating donors' requests, I've been able to pick up 81 instruments in the NYC area on 6 separate trips since getting involved in September 2020.

I first found out about the organization when I donated my own old acoustic guitar, and I'm grateful this became a chance to pay it forward in a bigger way than expected. Like you, I believe now is a more important time than ever to help make sure kids have the opportunity to learn music; and living in a society riddled with inequality, organizations like this play an indispensable role in redistributing wealth toward a better future for those less fortunate."  ~ Evan Balmuth

Above: HFM volunteer Evan Balmuth on his latest instrument pick-up expedition in New York.

Above: HFM volunteer Jon Harrington met us in Connecticut to deliver instruments he collected in Boston.

Mark Your Calendars

Hungry for Music is not involved anymore, but we still support awesome food and a fun time for a good cause!  The Hungry for Crawfish Boil is set for Saturday, May 21.  

Hungry for Music is forever grateful for the monetary support from the Hungry for Crawfish gang over the years.  The monetary support was vital in the fledgling years of our organization. 

Follow the link for more info.