In 1985, when the La Cañada Unified School District could no longer support music instruction because of lack of funds after Proposition 13, it approached Assistance League of Flintridge and asked if the members of our organization could provide an instrumental music program.
The women agreed to do it for the community. For almost 40 years, our ALF volunteers have arranged for classes, hired and paid the instructors, purchased, maintained and rented hundreds of instruments, registered the students, hosted concerts and provided publicity.
The time has come that LCUSD will take back the responsibility for students’ instrumental music training. At the recent school board meeting, the district decided to contract with an outside company for the 2024-2025 school year. ALF has been assured that the cost to families will be comparable. We assume the district will be sending out the details of the new program when they have been worked out.
This decision does not affect the remainder of our music program for the current school year. Our ALF classes will continue as planned, with our concerts at Lanterman Auditorium on May 8 and 9. Summer School music classes will also continue.
It has been a pleasure to witness the joy of music and the progress of hundreds of young music students over the years. Recent chairs Nancy Gunther and Mary Carney have provided countless hours of outstanding work administering ALF Instrumental Music. Our faculty has been wonderful. It is with heavy hearts that we discontinue the program, however, this allows our members to concentrate on our continuing Summer School, Operation School Bell, ALFies in Action, Drama, and Assisteens endeavors.
Gale Musker
President, Assistance League of Flintridge
La Cañada Flintridge
First published in the March 21 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
