Keeping Music Alive in Paradise

In November of 2018, devastating fires raged in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California. It was the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history, and the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over 100 years.

In Paradise, California; homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods were destroyed in an instant. Over 13,000 Residences, 500 businesses and 4,000 barns, sheds and other buildings have burned in the blaze. This includes schools in the Paradise Unified School District.

For the students in the Paradise Unified School district they also lost an important part of their education:

Music.

This school district lost over $200,000 of instruments for their music education programs due to fire damage.

A company that cares…

Tabor Stamper of KHS America (Jupiter band instruments) worked with area music stores and band directors to get a list of the immediate need and total need of what was destroyed. KHS wanted to get instruments back in the hands of students.

Jupiter continued its tradition of supporting music education in every way possible and put together a package of donated instruments totaling close to $38,000. These instruments went straight into the hands of band students affected by the Paradise fires.

“I think it’s really a great opportunity for all of us because we lost so much in the Camp Fire and I’m just really excited that Jupiter decided to help us out.” – Paradise student.

“The campfire was just devastating to everybody…not only do I appreciate [Jupiter and the donation of instruments], but my kids are very, very happy that people think of them as well and we’re going to put all those instruments to good use.” – Tom Schlabach, Band Director

KHS America is a family of brands that includes Jupiter, Mapex, and Majestic. KHS America supports band directors is many ways, and being a business partner of BandDirectorsTalkShop.com is just one of them. We are grateful for their support! If you want to check out some of their best new products, have a look at MyCase and the Reflections Marimba!