Wyclef Jean donates instruments to Newark high school enhancing music education for students
NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- Grammy Award-winning artist and producer Wyclef Jean visited a local high school in Essex County, New Jersey on Monday in an effort to support students learning music.
Local officials, students, faculty and staff welcomed Jean at the American History High School in Newark, where he donated a number of musical instruments.
Monday afternoon marked the debut performance of the American History High School band, who played using the donated instruments.
"It was pretty fun, but I was a little bit nervous because I've never performed before," said 11thgrader Alexander Feliz. "It's my second time performing on stage."
The donation was made possible through Music Will, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing music education through its modern band curriculum. Mike Wasserman, CEO of Music Will, joined Jean during his visit to help present the gift.
"The whole kind of premise of Music Well is that the music education that's taught in schools should reflect the music that students know and love and listen to," Wasserman said. "And so, we're donating drums, guitar, bass, keyboard things to allow kind of a lot of kind of current musical styles to be taught in school that otherwise you just you can't do so."
Before the group of instruments were donated, the only music program this school had was choir.
"I'm so excited to see where this takes us and how this levels up, who we are and amplifies our voices as we, you know, channel it and encourage students to stand up for what they believe in, especially in social justice and democracy," said principal Margaret Murray. "So, students are really excited."
Jean's visit to Newark marks the launch of 20 new programs established in the artist's name.
"My power is in the music teacher who found me in Newark," Jean said.
Officials say the initiative will bring long-needed instruments and resources to students at American History High School and other educational institutions across the country.
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