The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History recently received a substantial contribution of $280,000 from the Wing 2 Wing Foundation, marking a significant stride in their collaboration with the Save The Music Foundation to enhance musical education across the state.
According to Secretary Randall Reid-Smith, this generous donation will expand opportunities for students statewide to learn how to play musical instruments. During Governor Jim Justice’s recent media briefing, Reid-Smith highlighted the impact of this contribution, stating that every middle school in all 55 counties of West Virginia will now have access to instruments.
The Wing 2 Wing Foundation, established by Marshall University President Brad Smith and his wife Alys Smith, focuses on investing in education, entrepreneurship, and environmental initiatives. Through this partnership, the state has already implemented the program in 156 schools, providing each school with $40,000 worth of instruments at no cost.
Reid-Smith elaborated on the financial scope of this endeavor, noting that a total of $6,240,000 has been allocated for this initiative, covering instruments for 156 schools. The plan is to include 14 more schools, bringing the total to 180 schools benefiting from this program.
Governor Justice expressed his support for efforts aimed at enhancing musical education, emphasizing the importance of preserving and celebrating the state’s culture, history, and artistic heritage.
The ultimate goal of this partnership is to ensure that every middle school in West Virginia is equipped with musical instruments by the year 2027.
Below is the schedule of schools set to receive funding:
2025:
1. Glenwood School, Mercer County
2. Harts Pk8, Lincoln County
3. Road Branch School, Wyoming County
4. South Charleston Middle School, Kanawha County
5. Spencer Middle School, Roane County
6. Valley PK-8 School, Fayette County
7. Walton Middle School, Roane County
2026:
1. Burch PK-8 School, Mingo County
2. East Fairmont Middle School, Marion County
3. Green Bank PK8, Pocahontas County
4. Southside PK-8, McDowell County
5. West Fairmont, Marion County
2027:
1. East Bank Middle School, Kanawha County
2. John Adams Middle School, Kanawha County
This initiative represents a significant investment in the cultural and educational enrichment of West Virginia’s youth, fostering a deeper appreciation and engagement with music across the state.