$10,000 grant funds master classes for Glen Crest band, orchestra students

A Young People's Music Initiative Grant will help Glen Crest Middle School band and orchestra students master their instruments with training from professional musicians.

The $10,000 grant from the JCS Fund of the DuPage Foundation will be distributed in $2,000 installments over the next five years to fund master classes at the Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89 school.

Led by professionals, master classes help students learn technique specific to their chosen instruments.

"We have seen students become more experimental in their playing performance," said Kristi Ditsch, instrumental music director. "The master class sessions have helped keep students interested in orchestra and our retention rate is increasing from year to year."

The new grant is an extension of a program started two years ago. The JCS Fund has provided $50,000 in grants over the past two years, which have funded iPad and ukulele purchases as well as master classes.

"All students in District 89 have benefitted from an enriched music program thanks to the support of the JCS Fund," Assistant Superintendent Emily Tammaru said.

The JCS Fund of the DuPage Foundation supports the arts, particularly, music and visual art programs. The fund also supports programs that address health-related issues and has a particular emphasis on programs that provide long-term benefits to residents of DuPage County.

The DuPage Foundation seeks to raise the quality of life throughout DuPage County by fostering philanthropy, connecting donors to area needs and building community partnerships. The foundation makes grants to not-for-profit organizations working in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment, health, and human services. Since its inception, the foundation has built its endowment to more than $63 million and awarded more than $22 million in grants.

Established in 1986, the DuPage Foundation is a publicly supported 501(c)(3) organization to which contributions are tax deductible. It receives contributions and bequests into a permanent endowment from individuals, corporations, organizations and foundations wishing to make lasting contributions to the people of DuPage. The earnings on these funds are then used, in accordance with donor wishes, for the foundation's grant-making and community leadership activities.