A concert series soprano saxophone autographed by Grammy Award-winning artist Kenny G was recently awarded to Crawfordsville Middle School’s band program.
Before Christmas Break, CMS band students entered a contest hosted by Musicians’ Repair and Sales, a family-owned-and-operated repair and sales shop in Indianapolis. The students were asked to write an essay explaining why their school and band department could benefit from winning a Kenny G sax.
CMS eighth-grade students Hayden Jeffries and Elizabeth Turner wrote about not having enough instruments for their growing band.
“We have set a goal to have a state championship band,” Jeffries’ essay said, while Turner wrote, “One soprano sax could help someone in our band — we don’t have a soprano sax at all.”
Kenny G visited central Indiana in September of last year and raffled the autographed saxophone during Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie in Fishers. The performer is famous for his use of the soprano saxophone, which he learned to play as a middle school student.
The raffle winner of the Kenny G Soprano Sax then donated it to Musicians’ Repair and Sales which, in turn, hosted the essay contest.
Eddie Guanajuato, CMS band director, will utilize the saxophone to help complete his band. After 31 years of teaching, he said he has never been the recipient of such generosity.
“Mr. Guanajuato hopes that a student will be able to perform with it very soon,” CMS Guidance and Athletic Secretary Emily Fullenwider said. “Thank you to the anonymous donor and to Musicians’ Repair and Sales for the excitement that this beautiful saxophone has provided for our school.”
Musicians’ Repair and Sales services instruments used by the CMS and Crawfordsville High School band departments.
For more information, visit www.kennygsaxophones.com/who-plays-kenny-g-saxophones-in-2020.
