Paul Banks Elementary, in collaboration with the Preludes Program, is offering violin instruction to every first grade student for the 2016-2017 school year. In 2017-2018 the program will serve first and second graders, with the intention of adding kindergarten in the future. The entire program, including instruction, violins, and all teaching materials, is privately funded through grants and donations.

Our mission is to create better learners and citizens through instrumental music instruction and ensemble performance. We are inspired by the wildly successful Juneau Alaska Music Matters (JAMM) program and by El Sistema, a music education model from Venezuela that helped produce Gustavo Dudamel, the dynamic conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Bunnell Street Arts Center sponsors the program by gathering support form Alaska State Council on the Arts, Rasmuson Foundation, Alaska USA FCU, Kenai Fine Arts Guild and private donors.

There will be live music by Daniel Perry and special guests from the Preludes Program, Homer Youth String Orchestra Club (HYSOC) and Kenai Peninsula Orchestra (KPO).