Music given boost with grants
Pauatahanui School and the Wellington Male Voice Choir have received muchneeded funding from the first round of 2015 Mazda Foundation grants.
The school received $ 1483.25 to buy five xylophones.
The instruments were delivered last week and it was hoped they encouraged pupils to explore their musical abilities, said John Kelleher, the teacher in charge of music at the school.
‘‘The school budget only allows for so much, and if it wasn’t for the grant we wouldn’t have been able to do this,’’ Kelleher said.
Pauatahanui School has about 180 pupils enrolled and Kelleher said all would eventually get a chance to use the new instruments.
‘‘Because of the grant, we could also upgrade and replace some of the other instruments.’’
Sarah Daly, another teacher, said the xylophones would encourage creativity and musical learning.
The Wellington Male Voice Choir has been a part of the local Porirua community for more than 50 years, and received a grant of $ 2610 to buy uniforms.
The Mazda Foundation is funded through a contribution from the sale of every new Mazda in New Zealand.