Mason Community Arts Academy
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Community Outreach Instruments in the Attic

MCAA Congratulates GRAMMY Award winner and Instruments in the Attic Recipient Annie Ray

Throughout its existence, Mason Community Arts Academy’s Instruments in the Attic (IiA) Program has had the pleasure of providing recycled instruments to teachers and students in Northern Virginia, the DMV, as well as throughout the United States and abroad, in addition to serving our local community here. Our goal is always to get our inventory into the hands of those that need it, and thanks to the generosity of donors, we are able to continuously fulfill our mission and provide teachers with the instruments and supplies they need to create a lasting impact through music education. As a result, we have been fortunate to connect and develop lasting relationships with incredible and inspiring teachers in our local community and beyond.

Two of IiA’s main supporters are Jenna and Jason Day, of Day Violins. Their immense generosity, tireless dedication to our program and its mission, and unending willingness to volunteer their time makes all of IiA’s string instrument loans possible. They are a critical piece of IiA’s impact and existence, and their connection to the community both locally and afar has allowed our program to broaden its reach and strengthen its influence.

In 2022, Jenna Day connected Annie Ray (Annandale High School Orchestra Director and Performing Arts Chair) with IiA after learning that her program’s need of instruments was hindering the aspirations and goals she had for her students. Ray had goals of starting the Crescendo Orchestra for students with severe developmental and intellectual disabilities. Her goal was to teach these students how to play an instrument with one-on-one instruction tailored to their needs, and she was seeking the inventory to be able to make it happen.

There are people that come into your life that touch your heart instantly and so deeply that you are a better person forever. Annie Ray’s positive attitude and ability to always see the potential in others has motivated me to reach deeper and further into the community to bless lives with IIA instruments. Through my involvement with the Crescendo Orchestra, I have been reminded that music is the universal language, one we can all speak.

Jenna Day, describing Annie Ray

The Crescendo Orchestra is among Annie Ray’s many accomplishments and endeavors through which she changes her students’ lives for the better. On February 3, 2024, Ray was presented with the 2024 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Annie Ray was selected as the GRAMMY winner out of more than 2,000 initial nominees and was honored in Los Angeles as a part of GRAMMY Week.

I am honored to have received this award on behalf of the students of Annandale, Crescendo, and Parent Orchestras who every day teach me so much more than I will ever teach them. This award belongs not to me, but the community of musicians, teachers, and supporting organizations that make our program what it is. Thank you especially to Instruments in the Attic for supplying the instruments to Crescendo Orchestra that give our students access to music making. I encourage directors to look into the resources of United Sound, Giving Bach, String Rise, and other organizations so every student can have the opportunity to be a part of our ensembles.

Annie Ray

Mason Community Arts Academy and Instruments in the Attic extend our sincerest congratulations to Annie Ray and her students on this incredible accomplishment. We are fortunate to have educators like Ms. Ray in our community and look forward to continued collaboration. 

Written by Dr. Samantha Clarke
Edited by Regina Schneider

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Community Outreach Instruments in the Attic

Glen McCarthy Shares Passion for Music at Sandals

MCAA guitar teacher, Glen McCarthy was generous enough to include Instruments in the Attic (IiA) on his vacation to Sandals, Jamaica over winter break. 

This is not the first time that Mr. McCarthy donated an instrument on IiA’s behalf. Not only has he brought other instruments to the Sandals Foundation as a part of his travels, but Mr. McCarthy regularly facilitates donations to school music programs throughout the Northern Virginia area. 

Our Today writes:

Glen McCarthy, a music teacher at Mason Community Arts Academy, and Dionne Reid-Richards, a project manager in the technical division at Sandals Resorts International, both share a common passion for music and a commitment to imparting this love through music education.

With the help of the Sandals Foundation and Mason Community Arts Academy’s Instruments in the Attic
programme, they are set to achieve just that with the recent donation of musical equipment to the Calvary Wind Ensemble, based at the Calvary Baptist Church in Montego Bay.

Our Today

You can learn more about the story in the link above. MCAA thanks Glen for continuing to support music education and outreach not just here in the Northern Virginia area, but around the world.

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Community Outreach Instruments in the Attic

I.C. Norcom High School Instrument Donation

Derik J. Wright (pictured to the far left), joins the MCAA family as the Assistant Coordinator of Instruments in the Attic. Mr. Wright had the opportunity to fill some instrumental needs at his previous employer I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, VA, where he served as band director for several years. I.C. Norcom is the 2nd oldest historically African American High School in the nation. The Academy donated 3 trumpets, 2 alto saxophones, 5 clarinets, and 3 flutes.

“The Instruments in the Attic program holds a special place in my heart. Coming from teaching in a Title I school, one of my biggest hurdles was inventory. I simply would not have enough instruments for all of my students and they would have to share. This program puts unused instruments in the hands of students who not only need them but will put them to good use.”

Derik Wright

Mr. Wright is currently studying Wind Conducting under Dr. William Lake Jr. (Mason Summer Band Camp & Summer Conducting Symposium Director) at George Mason. He holds two degrees from Norfolk State University in Music Media (B.M) and Music Theory & Composition (M.M). 

Written by Derik J. Wright

Edited by Regina Schneider

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Community Outreach Instruments in the Attic

Instrument in the Attics Donation to Wynne Schools

On April 28, 2023, Instruments in the Attic (IiA) was able to provide over 100 instruments and accessories to middle and high school students in Wynne, Arkansas. Matthew Cooper, a middle school music teacher in Wynne Schools, reached out to Dr. Samantha Clarke (IiA Coordinator) earlier this academic year seeking instruments for the program. Cooper had learned about and received instruments from IiA in the past when he was teaching in Maryland, so he sought help from the program again in his current job. In the midst of coordinating the details of the instrument pick-up and school needs, the Wynne community faced an unimaginable tragedy: on March 31, their town was struck by a massive tornado. It completely destroyed their high school and half of their town. While they are on a path to recovery, the damages will take at least 2-3 years to rebuild.

Wynne High School destroyed by the tornado. Local Memphis 24
Matthew Cooper, Middle School Music Teacher, and colleague with MCAA Staff

Cooper stated, “These instruments could not have come at a better time.” He and his colleague drove from Wynne, Arkansas to Mason Community Arts Academy with a trailer in tow in order to get instruments and supplies back to their students. The donation included band and orchestra instruments, guitars, percussion equipment, and various accessories, and has made it possible for music to continue for the students in Wynne despite the hardships they are facing. Receiving these instruments has allowed the students to attend and perform at Music in the Parks at Magic Springs in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and has allowed the guitar ensemble to remain intact. As Cooper said, “This is going to help us so very much moving forward out of this disaster.”

Instruments in the Attic is always seeking instrument donations so that we can continue to help those in need locally, nationally, and internationally. If you would like to make a donation or to find out more, please visit our page or email us at academy@gmu.edu!

Written by Dr. Samantha Clarke
Edited by Regina Schneider

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Community Outreach Faculty News Instruments in the Attic

Instruments in the Attic Travels to Jamaica

MCAA guitar teacher, Glen McCarthy was generous enough to include Instruments in the Attic (IiA) on his vacation to Sandals, Jamaica over winter break. Before his trip, Mr. McCarthy came to Instruments in the Attic Coordinator, Samantha Clarke, seeking a trumpet to bring with him. He explained that the Sandals Foundation was in need of a trumpet, and that he would love to bring it there on behalf of Instruments in the Attic.

This is not the first time that Mr. McCarthy donated an instrument on IiA’s behalf. Not only has he brought other instruments to the Sandals Foundation as a part of his travels, but Mr. McCarthy regularly facilitates donations to school music programs throughout the Northern Virginia area. Mr. McCarthy is always generously lending his time to IiA by assessing and repairing guitars and helping to match instruments with students and teachers in need. Mr. McCarthy is such an asset to Instruments in the Attic, The Academy, and our greater community, and we are so fortunate to have him here at MCAA!