ST. LOUIS — Music students at Central Visual Performing Arts will receive thousands of dollars in donations from Nottelman Music Company's 70th Anniversary All-Star Jazz Showcase.
Michael Gerfen is a manager at the music company who helped organize the special concert showcase with several other people. Several local bands performed, including: The Jim Manley Band, The Funky Butt Brass Band, The Webster Faculty Jazz Ensemble, The Kendrick Smith Quartet, The Jazz St. Louis JazzU All-Stars, The Claire Maue Trio and pianist Ken Kehner.
"We wanted to do something special, we wanted to give back. Music education is the foundation of our families' business, and we figured the best way to give back would be to support a local school in need," Gerfen said.
Gerfen said 100% of the $8,000 raised Sunday will benefit the students at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School.
"We reached out to a bunch of our friends and told them about our vision and enthusiastically every single one of them was on board immediately," Gerfen said.
Among those in attendance was CVPA Assistant Principal Perry Anselman. He said this year, the school has one of the largest beginning bands in the school's history. The donations will make sure every student who wants to join band will get that chance.
"The proceeds will help purchase band instruments like clarinets, flutes, saxophones and trumpets," Anselman said.
The concert comes on the heels of the 1st anniversary of the CVPA mass shooting that left two people dead and seven injured.
Anselman said moments since the tragedy have been emotional for everyone involved.
"We will forever be the school district and we will be the school where this horrific event occurred. However, it doesn't define CVPA. We are moving forward. We are passionate about the arts, there's healing in the arts. So we are moving forward from that day," Anselman said.
Nottelmann Music Company said it will keep the donation website open for the next few days for anyone who wants to donate. You can click here to view the donation page.
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