Andrew Levi of Band of Angels with Melissa Jackson and Brett Jackson at Meyer Music.
A multipronged partnership between four organizations has emerged during the planning stage of the Pioneer Trek trip to Rwanda May 31-June 11, 2024. The mission to Rwanda focuses on medical and service work, and will include travelers from MNU, Grace Community (Spring Hill) Church of the Nazarene and Mercy & Truth Medical Missions. Today Band of Angels joined in the effort by donating 15 ready-to-play musical instruments for kids who may never have had the opportunity to touch a musical instrument.
MNU student Brett Jackson plays the violin. He knew MNU possessed several donated instruments available to take to Rwanda. However, many needed refurbishing and the funding to do so did not exist. Jackson contacted Meyer Music about getting some assistance with refurbishing, not knowing that Band of Angels existed.
Band of Angels started 14 years ago as the brainchild of second-generation Meyer Music owner Mike Meyer. Andrew Levi, director of programs and community engagement for Band of Angels says the need to provide no cost musical instruments was made clear to Meyer every year when his company would rent instruments to school children.
“A percentage of kids wanted to be in band or orchestra, but the cost was prohibitive,” Levi said. “Kids were heartbroken, and Mike realized he was in a position to repair and refurbish instruments. He said, ‘I know if I made a call out to the public there are instruments people would donate.’”
In its first year, Band of Angels’ goal was to collect 50 instruments. They collected 300. The refurbishing is professionally completed at Meyer’s Blue Springs location, which is one of three in the Metro.
“We have a simple mission,” Levi said. “We’re there to provide instruments and musical opportunities through scholarships where there are financial barriers.”
The organization focuses on Kansas City but does some work nationwide. Now they have their first international donation. Levi says their staff is small, consisting of himself, Mike Meyer, founder and chairman, Russ Pieken, director of operations, Dawn Zerbs, director of development and Destiny White-Dixon, student liaison.
“I work with families and students,” White-Dixon said. “The cool thing is, I was a recipient. I received my first trumpet in 2013. I would have taken a different path—I don’t know where my life would have been without music, so to help kids, especially kids who may not ever have that opportunity. I hope maybe someday I can teach music to kids in Rwanda.”
Levi says they have more donated instruments than recipients, so he encourages students to apply for instruments on BandofAngels.org. Readers can learn more about the organization and its fundraising efforts on the site, including Art that Blows, a charity auction for art made of otherwise unplayable musical instruments, on July 12 at The Abbott KC.
Jackson recounted learning that Band of Angels wanted to help the Rwanda trip. “I was so excited,” he said. “It’s almost unbelievable that we get to take these instruments to the kids.”
Levi sums it up.
“We’re trying to give kids a sense of belonging through music.”
