In December of 2008, the strings program at the Cab Calloway School of the Arts faced a disappointing reality. There were only 8 students enrolled and the district had decided to pull its funding. Hoping to save the program, two members of the school’s Fund Board met with the executive director and devised a funding plan to preserve it.

With support from the Cab Calloway Foundation and graduate students from the music education at University of Delaware, the strings program continued for two days a week. At this point, even with few students enrolled, the program excelled. By 2011, it had welcomed a full-time instructor and expanded to a five-day program with 87 students. Currently there are over 100 student musicians in the program, spanning all ages from middle to high school.

The CCF is excited to continue supporting the CCSA strings program as it continues to grow and thrive.