Rotary Clubs join to support Sussex Academy band programs
Rotary District 7630 recently gave a $5,000 grant to Sussex Academy to purchase musical instruments. Rehoboth Beach Sunrise Rotary and Long Neck Sunrise Rotary clubs donated an additional $6,000 fro fund purchases for the school’s music program.
Dr. Uday Jani, who serves on the Sussex Academy executive board, learned that the academy lacked resources to fund the instruments needed to meet growing demand in its various music programs.
High school enrollment has grown every year since the academy started its secondary school program in 2012. The school was also introducing performing arts to grades six through eight. The academy has a strong tradition of students performing at many county and state band events each year.
Wanting to help this rich tradition of music education and performance continue, Jani turned to fellow Rotarian Larry DeFrancisco, vice president of marketing and sponsorships for the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival.
DeFrancisco and Jani brought the idea to Rehoboth Beach Sunrise Rotary where it was enthusiastically endorsed, but when COVID-19 struck, the club granted funding to supply PPE for Beebe Healthcare workers. Another club was needed to lead the project for Sussex Academy.
Steve Grossman, a Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club board member, and a friend of Jani and DeFrancisco, saw the opportunity for his club to support area youth, and a partnership was formed to underwrite program costs. Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club would act as lead to secure a grant from Rotary District 7630.
“Being able to partner with fellow Rotary Clubs to achieve a goal is the beauty of our global organization,” said Randy Smith, Rehoboth Beach Sunrise Rotary Club president. “We are very fortunate to have Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club support and lead this project.”
Susan Giove of the Rehoboth Beach club developed the 2020-21 district grant request for Rotary District 7630 to help underwrite the instrument cost, and $5,000 in funding was granted. The two clubs split remaining $11,295 needed to procure the 24 needed instruments in fall 2020.
DeFrancisco arranged for Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival musicians to conduct sessions with the bands during a week in October 2020.
Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club President Lucille Cavan worked with Sussex Academy Music Director Michael Marotta to finalize the instrument purchase list in March 2021.
Purchases included 14 x 12 snare drums, Vic Firth double-sided practice pads, four different sizes of bass drums, a 3-valve tuba, snare carriers, a tenor carrier, bass carriers, a French horn, a trumpet, a tenor saxophone, an innovative percussion field series multi tom mallets, innovative percussion field series marching bass mallets and a set of ukuleles for the middle school program.
“Our Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club, together with the Rehoboth Beach Sunrise Rotary, is pleased to bring Larry DeFrancisco’s wonderful idea to reality,” said Cavan. “Arts are such an important part of education, and we are proud to support the students of the Sussex Academy bands and music programs.”
Representatives of the two Rotary Clubs went to Sussex Academy to present the instruments May 4.
The black marching drums will be used by the school’s new marching percussion ensemble, led by newly appointed Percussion Director Scott Litzenberg. The brass and woodwind instruments will be used for both the middle and high school bands. A set of ukuleles will be used by Nancy Curry, who teaches drama and music to elementary students.
DeFrancisco is working with the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival to coordinate presentations for the students this fall.
Marotta said, ”This grant and the generosity of these two Rotary clubs are allowing us to offer all middle and high school band students the opportunity to participate in concert band, percussion ensemble and eventually, a marching and pep band. The students and I will be forever grateful.”
