Coachella Valley Symphony Receives $25,000 Grant

The Palm Desert-based Coachella Valley Symphony received a $25,000 grant to continue the expansion of its music education programs. The symphony is the most recent Coachella Valley Spotlight honoree presented by the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation and CBS Local 2. 

“This gift from the Berger Foundation will go a long way to promote the music development of our students,” said Wayne Abravanel, Coachella Valley Symphony music director and conductor. “Much of the funds will be used for private instruction scholarships through the Beginning Strings Conservatory. We find that individual lessons advance students’ talents more rapidly, preparing them for the next level of performance.” 

The organization aims to expose the educational and therapeutic values of music by supporting student musicians, adult performers, teachers and concert patrons through the trio of the Beginning Strings Conservatory, the Buddy Rogers Youth Symphony, and the Coachella Valley Symphony. Since 1993, approximately 850 young musicians, ages 8-18, and 1400 adults have benefited from the organization’s efforts. The symphony reaches students from the High Desert to Idyllwild and throughout the entire Coachella Valley. Six main concert events are held each season including a subscription series of four concerts and two benefit events. 

“The Coachella Valley Symphony has enhanced our community for decades,” said Catharine Reed, Senior Program Officer for the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. “We are happy to support music education for those young people who want to pursue dreams of performing.”