FC Hammond Orchestra Booster

The Hammond Middle School Orchestra is a group of talented students from grades 6 to 8. Hammond is a CEP Title 1 Middle School, where 87% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This means that often, participating in extracurricular activities like the orchestra is a luxury that can’t be easily afforded. That’s why the Hammond Orchestra Booster Club is here to help.

We raise money to cover the everyday expenses of the orchestra, like strings, rosin, instrument rests, and music. We also use the funds to fix and replace instruments that go beyond the ACPS budget for the program. The Hammond Orchestra has grown a lot in the past few years, from 115 to 151. Thanks to the Booster Club, we were able to buy 6 more instruments so that all students can take home and practice with one.

One of the most important things we do with the money is to fund trips to regional competitions so the kids can compete and win recognition. These music festivals are often held at theme parks, and the musicians get to travel and compete for a trophy. After the competition, they have a few hours to relax in the parks. We also provide breakfast to the students, since many of them rely on the free breakfasts provided by the school. The bus leaves before breakfast is served, so we want to make sure that everyone gets a good breakfast on the way down before they perform.

Last year, our orchestra won first place in their category and first overall—even beating out high schools! That’s a huge achievement, and it’s all thanks to the hard work and dedication of the students.

Please consider donating to help enable this amazing group or students reach their true potential!