Aldridge Elementary is seeking funding to repair and purchase used band instruments through Kagan and Gaines Music Co., Inc. to expand our morning band program. When the music program was reintroduced in 2024 after a five-year hiatus, we began rebuilding from scratch. Currently, only nine students participate due to a lack of functional instruments. Many more have expressed interest, but the program cannot grow without access to quality, playable instruments.

Our school is located within a Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) public housing project on the far South Side of Chicago. As a Title I school serving a predominantly Black student population, we face significant challenges related to systemic underfunding and limited access to arts education. By repairing and purchasing instruments, we aim to create a sustainable instrument bank that allows more students to join the band each year, regardless of their families’ financial means.

This project also prepares students for participation in the Illinois Solo & Ensemble Contest, a key milestone that supports technical development, builds confidence, and raises Aldridge’s visibility within the broader CPS arts community. Repaired instruments will remain in our inventory and serve students for years to come, creating a long-term impact on music access and equity in our school community.

We believe every student deserves the chance to experience the joy, discipline, and lifelong skills that come from being part of a band. With your support, we can provide more instruments, more access, and more opportunity—for students today and in the future.