The Rancho Pico Junior High School Band received a special gift Thursday when Remo, Inc. donated about 10 new drumheads to the school’s junior high program.
“We wanted to give them something special to encourage them to continue their study,” said Alyssa Janney, health program development and marketing manager for Remo, Inc. “Also for the idea of using music as a tool to improve the quality of their lives, whatever path they chose in their future.”
Janney said Remo decided to make the donation to the school after the company participated in the Santa Clarita Valley Education Foundation’s Principal for a Day event in October. Remo’s owner, Ami Belli, was especially touched by the event.
“The principal Erum Jones graciously took us on a grand tour of the school. I was impressed by the her leadership and dedication of her entire staff,” she said. “I met Mrs. Stofel, the band director. They played something nice for us, [it was] very special to see how these kids enjoy what they were doing. This practice of good discipline will make them excel in their future endeavors.”
Janney said this experience of visiting the band room and seeing the drumheads the students used, inspired her to make the donation to Rancho Pico.
“It was her [Belli’s] first time participating in principal for a day and she was blown away by the school and the administration and the teachers and the enthusiasm of the students,” Janney said. “We made it into the band room to watch a rehearsal and they played a song for her. It really touched her heart.”
After their visit, Belli and Janney then reached out to the school’s director of instrumental music Peggi Stoffel and asked her what the school was in need of.
“I asked the band teacher what they needed to replace all their drumheads so she gave me a list of the type of drumheads they would like,” Janney said.
Now, the students are looking forward to practicing and performing with high-quality instruments used by some of the industry’s leading professionals.
“They were all very grateful, they played another special holiday song for us,” Belli said. “I’m so proud of them. It was pleasure doing this for the band.”
