Instruments needed for Cambodian Children

A few weeks ago I received a phone call from a school principal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He shared with me that the school he works at is attempting to start an instrumental music program. He obtained my number from my younger brother Tom who works with homeless and refugee families at the Denver Rescue Mission. Initially the program would consist of a band this year and then a beginning and intermediate band next year and so forth. The idea is to create a pilot instrumental music program which could be used as a model for the entire country of Cambodia and perhaps even other Southeast Asian nations. There are currently no school band programs in the entire country of Cambodia, a country that just a couple of decades ago was devastated by what has been called “the killing fields”. Many of the students at the Logos School are orphans or “street” kids. I shared with Steven that I would try to get with the Denver Musicians Association to collect band instruments. The question became, how do we get the instruments to Phnom Penh. Initially the plan was to try to raise funds to have them shipped over. I didn’t think that this plan would as it seemed like we would be asking musicians to double dip on the donations. Well, good news! Just a couple of days ago I heard from Jordon Fischer of Asian Hope that we can use a portion of cargo space on a medical transport airplane for no charge. The plain will be need to loaded on June 18 which means that this instrument drive will need to be done NOW! It is my desire to see the our many friends and colleagues of the Denver Musicians step up to this amazing cause. The school is hoping to receive donated brass, woodwind and percussion instruments in playing condition (there are no instruments repair shops in Cambodia). Other needs includes items such as pads, valve oil, wire stands, etc. and the Essential Elements 2000 method books. I would ask that if you feel able to participate in this amazing project please bring your instruments to the DMA office at 1165 Delaware St. Denver, CO or call Dan Leavitt for pick up. We don’t have a lot of time for the drop off so please consider this in the next few days.

Please pass this info on to your music students and friends.

Thank you,

Dan Leavitt
303-693-2183
dan@leavittmusicservice.com