This article was originally published in the September 2018 Trenton Downtowner.
Trenton Music Makers — formerly the Trenton Community Music School — was recently selected by the Program for Rising El Sistema Organizations to receive $67,500 in funding over three years.
El Sistema USA is a national membership organization for programs effecting social change through music.
Trenton Music Makers coordinators say the award enables them to open two new program sites in partnership with the Trenton Public Schools.
One is at Trenton Central High School to enrich the orchestra program led by music instructor Joseph Pucciatti. The other is Jefferson Elementary School’s second grade pre-orchestra program, led by string teacher Peg Banks and music teacher Jason Hui.
The new programs augment the existing TMM programs at Grant Elementary and Dunn Middle schools and engage Trenton students from grade two through high school.
A national grant will help Trenton Music Makers provide more opportunities for the city’s youth.,
