Fallston Middle School Top Fundraiser in Casey Butler Practice Challenge; Memorial Challenge Raises $8,000 for Harford Music Students in Need

From Harford County Public Schools:

Rebecca and Carroll Fitzgerald, who own the Lantern Queen River Boat, which operates out of Havre de Grace, recently donated a free cruise on the boat as the grand prize in the recent Casey Butler Practice Challenge for the Band Together program. The Challenge is named after Bel Air High School graduate Casey Butler, who died suddenly while studying music at the Peabody Institute. Fallston Middle School was the top fundraising group this year, raising more than $2,600. In total, the Practice Challenge raised more than $8,000 for Band Together. Monies raised will be used to purchase brand new student model instruments, instrument parts and cases and professional repair work.

Band Together is an organization of music educators dedicated to collecting used string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, and reconditioning and distributing them to interested Harford County Public Schools students in need. HCPS offers instruction in instrumental music to all interested students in grades 4 through 12. Lessons are given for all string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, and there are numerous opportunities for performance in various school ensembles.

This year, Band Together is providing instruments to more than 200 students whose parents cannot afford to rent or buy instruments.

In the picture, Mrs. Fitzgerald is presenting Cara Salveson, Fallston Middle School band director, with a certificate for the free cruise.