Prize From Grammy Foundation Is Music To The Ears Of Students At South Philly Magnet School
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A South Philadelphia magnet school is singing for joy after winning a cash prize from the people who hand out the Grammy awards.
Students in the chorus at the Girard Academic Music Program are among those rejoicing at word the school has won a $5,500 Grammy Foundation grant.
The performing arts school, known as GAMP, was one of eight schools nationwide to win the Foundation's Signature Schools prize -- an award to schools the foundation describes as economically underserved.
GAMP music director Diane Dannenfelser says this award will come in handy for a school that has already lost one-and-a-half music teaching positions due to budget cuts.
"The $5,500 must be used for music. That's what it's targeted for. And we have our wish list. So we've already talked to our principal about how we want to spend it. And we spent it in about half an hour!" On a new tuba, new guitar amplifiers and new headsets for the piano lab.
Dannenfelser says the Foundation is expected to formally present the check to GAMP in late May or early June.