Volunteers prepare for Ypsi PRIDE Day
May. 13, 2010 · 7:09 a.m.
Each year, residents in and around the city of Ypsilanti carry on a tradition started by a group of community members enrolled in a city leadership program, a sort...read more
Bicycles zoom as flowers bloom
Apr. 30, 2010 · 2:11 p.m.
The weather has turned, the trees are budding and the flowers are popping out of the ground; time for a cruise through town. But don’t be so quick to hop in the...read more
Sheriff Clayton visits Ypsilanti Township
Apr. 29, 2010 · 12:59 p.m.
About 50 Ypsilanti Township residents gave the Washtenaw County Sheriff Office their input about law enforcement in the community Tuesday evening.
The information...read more
Local photographer raising funds for Ypsi Project exhibit
Apr. 20, 2010 · 2:20 a.m.
Ypsilanti has many faces, and Erica Hampton wants to share a few of them with you.
Over the past year, Hampton created the The Ypsi Project, a series of portraits...read more
Savoy taking shape as live music venue
Apr. 17, 2010 · 2:38 p.m.
Ypsilanti's newest concert venue is preparing for its grand opening weekend April 23, more than a month after its soft opening March 13.
Formerly Club Divine,...read more
Photo by Horns for the Holidays
Now in it’s twelfth year, the program has received approximately 200 instruments from residents in Washtenaw County, 30 of which were donated this holiday season.
Horns for the Holidays wraps up donation drive
Jan. 10, 2009 · 2:29 p.m.
People have a lot of instruments sitting around in their closets - from unstrung violins to rusty clarinets.
That is why area musician Ken Kozora started the musical instrument donation program Horns for the Holidays. Now in it’s twelfth year, the program has received approximately 200 instruments from residents in Washtenaw County, 30 of which were donated this holiday season.
Kozora, a former Ypsilanti resident who now lives in Manchester, said donations have been increasing in the past few years. After joining forces with the Ann Arbor Arts Alliance last year, Horns for the Holidays was able to broaden the campaign.
“When the Arts Alliance got started a couple years ago, I thought that would be the perfect vehicle for Horns for the Holidays,” Kozora said. “We had a big year last year with 65 donated instruments.”
The program will continue to accept donations (instruments or monetary) through Thursday. After repair, the instruments will be “recycled" into the hands of Washtenaw County students who are unable to afford their own.
"Children gain valuable skills through their involvement in music; discipline from practice, listening, contributing, and sharing in a group setting; self confidence and much more," Kozora said. "These skills carry over to all other aspects of their life.”
In addition to the used instruments it has received this season, the program is hoping for more monetary contributions to help pay for repairs. Kozora said a majority of the instruments usually need some work done to them before they can be handed over to a student.
“Having a bunch of instruments just sitting around that nobody can use is a waste,” Kozora said.
Once repaired, the instruments are distributed to local educators in Ypsilanti, Manchester, Ann Arbor and Chelsea. Kozora said it is important to note the students “own” the instrument while it is in their care.
He said there are approximately 100 instruments including violins, clarinets, flutes, saxophones, guitars and trombones currently distributed.
Citizen Information
Instruments donated to the Horns for the Holidays program can be delivered at seven locations throughout Washtenaw County including:
Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce (115 West Huron St., Suite 301, Ann Arbor)
Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts (637 South Main Street, Ann Arbor)
OZ's Music, (1920 Packard Street, Ann Arbor)
Ypsilanti Area Chamber of Commerce, (106 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti)
What Is That Gallery, (130 W Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti)
Chelsea Center for the Arts, (400 Congdon St., Chelsea)
Riverfolk Music and Arts Organization, (122 W. Main Street, Manchester.)
For more detailed information about scheduling a drop-off time, visit the Arts Alliance's website at www.a2artsalliance.org.
Musical instruments of any kind as well as financial donations to repair someone else's donated instrument will be accepted. Horns for the Holidays is a program of the Arts Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax deductible.
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