A bigger sound

After local freemason Pat Strickland told Superintendent Daniel Schrock about potential grant money available from the Montana Masonic Foundation, it didn't take long for Mr. Andrew Del Raso, CCHS music teacher, to fill out an application.

"Our instruments are old," Del Raso explained. "They're like a used car. Even if they're good and you do regular maintenance, they're only good for a couple hundred thousand miles."

Many of the instruments at Ekalaka Public Schools have seemingly been around the world, and those instruments need replaced sooner rather than later. A tight budget and the high cost of band instruments had previously prevented the school from being able to replace them. Now, thanks to the Montana Masonic Foundation and Ekalaka Lodge #120, band students at CCHS have two new euphoniums and one new tuba.

Though several other instruments still need to be replaced, Del Raso said that the ones purchased with the $3,000 in grant money received needed it most.

"Low sounding instruments are generally more expensive, so we decided to start with those. They also help us achieve a bigger, fuller sound even though we are a small band. This gets us one step closer and we are certainly grateful to the masons for the grant."

Lewie Fletcher, R.W. Senior Grand Warden, Grand Lodge AF & AM of Montana, and Strickland, Master of Ekalaka Lodge #120, were at Ekalaka Elementary on Tuesday to present a check to the district.

"The basic precept of Freemasonry is education," Strickland said. "We, as a local lodge, want to do our part to help with local schools. We're thrilled to play a part in it and thank Mr. Schrock for his enthusiastic participation."

The Montana Masonic Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization committed to local causes. It has sponsored reading achievement programs including "Bikes for Books" and "Kindles for Kids" throughout Montana Public Schools for years. This year is the second year "Kindles for Kids" is taking place locally.

The foundation's educational grant program is designed to assist under-funded programs such as music, drama, science, and school libraries.