From left, Annalyce Baptiste, Sydnee Brunst, Halle Beatty, Blaine Jamison, GiGi Deakings and Olivia Lavery represent the fourth grade as the Blackwood Theatre Organ Society presented the Moniteau school district with a donation to further elementary music education at their board meeting Wednesday.

CHERRY TWP — More harmonies will ring in the halls of Dassa McKinney Elementary School in 2018.

Thanks to a generous donation, a new partnership and community support, more band instruments will be available to make music.

Members of the fourth-grade band were on hand to accept the donation at the Moniteau School Board meeting Monday night.

William Weltman, band director for the district, said the $20,182 donation from Blackwood Arts will have a large impact.

“A lot of students struggle to find their place in school and (band) is usually a great group of students that are positive influences as well,” Weltman said.

When 88 fourth-graders from the district took a field trip to the Blackwood Estate in Marion Township, no one expected a financial reward.

The students heard and learned about the rare art deco Wurlitzer theater pipe organ owned by Ben Robertson and Don Fink. They also saw a Laurel and Hardy film accompanied by the organ.

“It was so cool to see the kids and their reaction,” said Blackwood Arts board member and Moniteau School board member Mike Panza.

Robertson, chief executive officer of Blackwood Arts, said it has a long relationship with Dassa McKinney. He said reaching young children with music helps their brain development.

He said musicians must use all of their senses and multitask to play instruments.

As a thank-you after the field trip, the fourth-graders sent Blackwood Arts about 50 essays and drawings about their experience.

“All of us at Blackwood were greatly moved by the response from the students,” Robertson said.