Gasparilla Music Foundation Hosts Music Instrument Drive

The Gasparilla Music Foundation (GMF) and its Recycled Tunes program are holding a Musical Instrument Drive benefiting Hillsborough County schools!

On Saturday December 11th from 1pm until 5pm at Sparkman Wharf in Water Street Downtown Tampa, GMF will be accepting new and gently used instruments in exchange for a FREE ticket to the 2022 Gasparilla Music Festival taking place February 25-27. Volunteers will be on hand for an easy, curbside drop off.

Instruments received by Recycled Tunes are refurbished (if necessary), cleaned and tuned and then provided to Title 1 elementary schools in Hillsborough County. The program also provides music classrooms with repairs, gear, and other supplies such as strings, sticks and bows. So far in 2021, the Recycled Tunes program has provided 719 new and used instruments, equipment and repairs to 42 schools in Hillsborough County. While there is a need for a broad range of instruments, Recycled Tunes’ current priority needs are for brass, woodwind and string instruments.

“Our music classrooms and teachers have been burdened with a disproportionate amount of hardship from the pandemic,” according to David Cox, GMF’s Executive Director. “That instrument in your closet collecting dust could change the course of a kid’s life.”

Special performances on the Sparkman Wharf Stage:

1:00 PM-2:00 PM: Chris Sgammato & Sgammato Music School

2:00 PM-2:15 PM: H.B. Plant Drumline

2:15 PM-3:00 PM: Kristopher James

3:00 PM-3:15 PM: H.B. Plant Drumline

3:15 PM-4:00 PM: Someday Honey

4:00 PM-4:15 PM: H.B. Plant Drumline

4:15 PM-5:00 PM: Someday Honey

For more information, visit www.gasparillamusic.com.