The Season of Giving

December 2019

“I am happy to support SAW! As I get older, I realize more and more the enormous positive
impact that String Academy and music has had on my life.”

~ SAW Alumni Quote

Dear Friend,

The String Academy of Wisconsin is celebrating its 30th year! We are so incredibly proud of three decades of helping young people develop into wonderful musicians and successful citizens. Music can be such a transforming presence in one’s life. Research has emphasized how profound and important comprehensive music study is in developing a child’s cognitive abilities. It produces increased learning capacity, focus, empathy, and the ability to comfortably interact with others. Sadly today fewer schools, especially in low-income areas, can offer this opportunity to students.

Eighty children ages 4-18, from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, study violin and viola at the String Academy of Wisconsin. SAW’s professional and dedicated artist faculty carefully guide students in a challenging course of study that includes weekly private and group instruction, classes in music theory/ear training, and numerous solo and group performances. Our comprehensive curriculum encourages and develops teamwork, problem solving, and self-confidence that benefits students in their music studies and beyond. By educating the WHOLE child, SAW offers preparation for success in school and life!

The Academy strives to make an excellent music education possible for low-income families through our acclaimed Urban Students in Arts Outreach program which includes two primary strategies for providing high quality music education and instruments to USAO students.

Scholarships and instruments to 20-25 students annually whose families could not otherwise afford music lessons.
Partnerships with Milwaukee Public Schools where a majority of students are from low-income homes. Our faculty is providing instruction to students with demonstrated potential and a strong desire to learn at Escuela Vieau, an MPS K-8 school. These students (along with other USAO recipients) also come to the Academy for weekly group instruction and performances. We have encreased our Vieau enrollment, but children still remain on the waiting list of this popular program. Providing instruction, instruments, music is costly — a minimum of $2,500 per student.

These programs can only continue with contributions from foundations and generous individuals like you, who understand the profound importance of the arts in a child’s development. Thank you!

Will you make a gift today to help ensure that talented students in Milwaukee continue to grow and develop through music education – no matter their financial circumstances?

Your gift of any amount matters and is greatly appreciated. It is instrumental to our success in educating the whole child.

Sincerely,

Darcy Drexler, SAW Director

Julilly W. Kohler, SAW Board Chair