New UTK String Project Awarded Exclusive Grant
The UTK String Project at the University of Tennessee is one of only six national string programs to be awarded a recent grant from the National String Project Consortium, and one of three new programs to be a recipient.
A member of the National String Project Consortium, the UTK String Project is a program designed to teach beginning string students and develop future string teachers. Students ages 8-10 will attend two string classes every week, taught by music students at the University of Tennessee under the close supervision of the program director, Evie Chen. Students will study violin, viola, or cello. The program is a key part of the School of Music’s community engagement, providing accessible and affordable music instruction. The grant, which is provided by the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation and the National String Project Consortium, will provide $10,000 for the 2022-23 academic year.
“We’re thrilled to be recognized with this grant, which will allow us to continue to provide high-quality music education to the next generation of musicians and music educators,” Chen said. “This is a key part of our mission to bring life-enriching music to both our students and the community at large.”
“We’re especially excited that this work and grant will impact the future of string education,” said Jeffrey Pappas, director of the School of Music, “particularly for students who may not have this opportunity in their current schools.”
The National String Project Consortium (NSPC) is a coalition of String Project sites based at colleges and universities across the United States. The NSPC is dedicated to increasing the number of children playing stringed instruments and addressing the critical shortage of string teachers across the country. The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization funded in part by the National Association of Music Merchants. The Foundation’s mission is to advance active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs.
“Programs supported by The NAMM Foundation, including a grant to the National String Project Consortium, advance music learning for people of all ages and abilities,” Mary Luehrsen, Executive Director of the NAMM Foundation, said in a press release. “Together, we advance a more musical world based on a shared belief that music is a force for good and connections in our world.”