JOPLIN, Mo. —
Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow will visit Joplin next week to donate more than $300,000 in musical instruments toward those lost during the May 22 tornado.
Manilow will make the presentation at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Junge Field on behalf of the Manilow Music Project. The organization’s mission is to highlight the importance of school music programs, and to donate instruments and other materials to them.
“We’re just thrilled to death,” said Rick Castor, Joplin High School band director. “And we’re thrilled even more that he’s coming to do it himself.”
Castor said that instruments will help replace instruments still needed by the high school music department — such as concert baritones, gongs and pianos — as well as at East Middle School.
Castor said that the high school and middle school music students will be rehearsing Thursday morning for a joint performance that will close out the football season. The rehearsal will be followed by Manilow’s presentation. The presentation at Junge will be open only to invited guests.
“The bands, choirs and orchestras will all be out there, so we’re praying for nice weather,” he said.
The donation and visit by Manilow was made possible through a joint effort by the Manilow Music Project and Joplin’s Fitterling Dentistry, he said.
Dr. Michael Fitterling and his wife, Margie, lost their dental practice at 2614 S. McCoy Ave. in the tornado. While the couple worked to get their office up and running again, Margie Fitterling said, they also wanted to do something to help the community.
As longtime fans of Manilow, she said, they contacted the Manilow Music Project to see if it could lend a hand to the school district.
“We had found out that the high school’s music library was destroyed,” she said. “Our kids were active in the music program.
“We figured that (Manilow’s program) would just write a check, put it in an envelope, stamp it and send it on its way.”
The size of the donation that will be made and the fact that he is coming himself to Joplin to make it, she said, is “amazing and overwhelming.”
Representatives for the Manilow Music Project could not be reached on Friday. But in a press release, the singer said that he welcomed the chance to help Joplin’s music students.
“I know firsthand how invaluable music can be to get you through life’s tough times,” he said. “It is an honor and a privilege to help these kids after such a disaster.”
Contributions
Donations of new and used instruments are still being accepted and can be dropped off at the Fitterling Dentistry office, 4402 E. 32nd St., through Wednesday.
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