Owen Middle orchestra tunes up with grant

The Owen Middle School String Orchestra, begun in January and now 70 students strong, has received a $10,000 grant that will enable it to buy new instruments and get ready for the fall.

In the meantime, it is getting ready to present its Strings Spring Concert at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 4 in the Owen Middle School auditorium.

The Black Mountain-Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund Grant will mean new instruments for many students, some of whom are using ones belonging to violinist and much teacher Madeline Welch.

“They are so excited to finally be able to have their own instruments to practice on at home,” said Welch, a 2015 gradate of North Greenville University with a degree in K-12 music education. “They are truly ecstatic.”

Cindy Sturdivant, the school’s media coordinator, helped Welch write the grant that secured the $10,000. Instruments to be purchased include violins, violas, cellos and upright basses, she said. Music and other supplies will also be purchased.