ISSUED: 25 January 2017
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Through a gift from Younis Orthodontics of Martinsburg, Shepherd University’s Preparatory Program in the Department of Music will award scholarships to families interested in musical instruction for their children.
The Preparatory Program offers community music ensembles, private lessons, and summer music study for students as young as 18 months, including early childhood music classes, Preparatory Orchestra, Preparatory Chorus, and Summer Jazz and Summer String Orchestra Camps.
“We are proud to support music education,” said Dr. John Younis, owner of Younis Orthodontics. “The Preparatory Program at Shepherd has been a richly rewarding experience for our entire family, so the Younis family and Younis Orthodontics hope that our support can bring music into the lives of many more children and families in our community.”
Dr. Rob Tudor, music department chair, said that Preparatory Program scholarships are an important step in Shepherd’s regional music outreach.
“We want to keep evolving in our efforts to become a community music destination,” Tudor said. “Thanks to this leadership gift from the Younis family, even more people will discover that Shepherd is a great place for music instruction of all ages.”
“We are grateful that the Younis family shares our belief that music is essential to a vibrant, meaningful life,” Tudor added. “Hopefully, others will follow their wonderful example of support for Shepherd music.”
The Younis gift will initially support scholarships for Shepherd’s community music ensembles and summer music camps. For more information about youth scholarships in Shepherd’s Preparatory Program, contact Sherry Sykes at ssykes@shepherd.edu or 304-876-5248, or visit www.shepherd.edu/preparatory-program.
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