More than 3,400 students take part in band or orchestra in the Sioux Falls School District. However, close to 1,000 of them can't afford an instrument.
Most performers come to Sioux Falls, put on a show, and then leave - not Barry Manilow. The singer/songwriter is using his time here to collect gently-used instruments for the Sioux Falls School District.
"Really we have a lot of need in our district. The fact that we can get almost 60 instruments off of a great concert from Barry Manilow, it's a good thing for us," said James Weaver, Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator for Sioux Falls School District.
For the past week, people have been dropping off gently-used instruments at the KELOLAND Box Office, as part of the Manilow Music Project. The international organization was founded by the singer. Barry Manilow himself is donating a Yamaha Keyboard to the Sioux Falls School District.
"When you open up the case for the first time, you never know what's going to come out of it. The fact that we opened up all of these cases and most of the instruments are in really good condition. We should be able to get all of these instruments in kids' hands probably in the next week or two," said Weaver.
Some of these instruments cost a lot of money. One violin is estimated to be worth $2,000. In total, they've received about $43,000 worth of donated instruments.
Not only do the people dropping off instruments get the satisfaction of helping out area kids, they also get two free tickets to the Barry Manilow concert Wednesday night.
Even if you missed the free tickets, donating an instrument to the schools won't leave you empty-handed.
"It's a really great feeling to say, 'Here's an instrument you can use and let's learn this skill you can use for a lifetime'," said Weaver.
If you can't make it to the show, tonight on KELOLAND News at 10 we'll take you inside the Barry Manilow concert at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
Most performers come to Sioux Falls, put on a show, and then leave - not Barry Manilow. The singer/songwriter is using his time here to collect gently-used instruments for the Sioux Falls School District.
"Really we have a lot of need in our district. The fact that we can get almost 60 instruments off of a great concert from Barry Manilow, it's a good thing for us," said James Weaver, Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator for Sioux Falls School District.
For the past week, people have been dropping off gently-used instruments at the KELOLAND Box Office, as part of the Manilow Music Project. The international organization was founded by the singer. Barry Manilow himself is donating a Yamaha Keyboard to the Sioux Falls School District.
"When you open up the case for the first time, you never know what's going to come out of it. The fact that we opened up all of these cases and most of the instruments are in really good condition. We should be able to get all of these instruments in kids' hands probably in the next week or two," said Weaver.
Some of these instruments cost a lot of money. One violin is estimated to be worth $2,000. In total, they've received about $43,000 worth of donated instruments.
Not only do the people dropping off instruments get the satisfaction of helping out area kids, they also get two free tickets to the Barry Manilow concert Wednesday night.
Even if you missed the free tickets, donating an instrument to the schools won't leave you empty-handed.
"It's a really great feeling to say, 'Here's an instrument you can use and let's learn this skill you can use for a lifetime'," said Weaver.
If you can't make it to the show, tonight on KELOLAND News at 10 we'll take you inside the Barry Manilow concert at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.