Teasley Receives $20,000 In Band Instruments

Teasley Middle School on Tuesday received a $20,000 musical instrument prize package from Yamaha Corporation of America.

Teasley was one of eight schools nationwide that came out on top in the company’s Quest for Music Education online contest held earlier this year, which awarded more than $100,000 in band and orchestral instruments and equipment. 

The contest consisted of a series of online quests undertaken at usa.yamaha.com that covered a variety of topics, including Yamaha Artists, Yamaha Internships and Music Advocacy. 

Schools tallying the largest participation rate each won one of several prize packages: three first place prizes of $20,000 in instruments, three second place prizes of $10,000 in instruments and two third place prizes of $5,000 in instruments. 

Elementary/middle schools, high schools and colleges/universities were all invited to participate in the contest.  

Teasley’s participation rate exceeded the high school and college category finalists combined, said Yamaha Southeast District Manager Travis Goodwin, with more than 700 participants completing more than 3,500 quests on the website. 

For its prize, Teasley selected two YBB-202MS standard BB tubas, two YCL-221 II standard BB bass clarinets and one YHR-567 intermediate French horn. 

“I have many students that are economically disadvantaged,” said Sean Furilla, band director at Teasley. “In my class, holding those instruments, every student has the chance to be equal. It is an environment where the varying levels of economic diversity vanish. Band is a place that wipes away all boundaries and anything is possible.  The ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ labels disappear and the world of possibility opens before their eyes.”

Roger Eaton, of Yamaha added: “We experienced a wonderful nationwide turnout for this first-time contest, and Teasley Middle School was able to successfully recruit a large number of students, parents, teachers and people in the community to stand up for music education on their behalf. I’m sure the school’s students and teachers will be able to put these musical instruments to great use in their band program.”