PING!: 25 Years of Equity

PING! Brings Instrumental Music to All in the Public Schools

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation) with a program and reception, including music by the Juliet Trio.

When an Oak Park mom saw an inequity on the band and orchestra concert stage at Irving Elementary, she knew something had to be done. That was the start of PING! and the power of the people who grew this organization into what it is today, 25 years later.

Join PING! and the Oak Park River Forest Museum to learn about PING!’s history and where it is headed today through a panel with those impacted by PING!, past and present, including Francis Figg, a PING! founder; Hildegarde Donald, a PING! family member; Tom Kanwischer, OP D97 Director of Bands; and a former PING! student. Moderated by PING! Executive Director Michelle Dybal and PING! President Sarah Shirk. A reception follows.

PING! (Providing Instrument for the Next Generation) is a 25-year-old, community nonprofit organization providing band and orchestra instruments, mentoring, workshops, and access to lessons, music camps, and trips to students in need in grades 4 through 12 in Oak Park and River Forest public schools. PING! serves approximately 130 young musicians annually, at least 70% identifying as people of color, bringing diversity to instrumental music classrooms and beyond, while providing access for all. In a community with very high-quality school music programs, PING! students can be on par with peers regardless of their financial situations and feel like they belong.

Register: http://oprfmuseum.org/events/ping-25-years-equity