Book Readers/Horn Blowers receives grant

Carroll County arts organization, Book Readers and Horn Blowers, was awarded a $6,600 grant from North Central Health Services.

Book Readers and Horn Blowers was one of five area nonprofit organizations to receive a capital and capacitybuilding grant last Friday at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Book Readers and Horn Blowers," said board member Miriam Robeson. "This grant will give us the ability to dramatically increase the quality and flexibility of our programs through the acquisition of a high-quality speaker system and presentation technology. We are grateful for the generous grant from NCHS."

Book Readers and Horn Blowers presents educational music and literature programs to elementary schools in Carroll and surrounding counties. These programs feature the biography of a famous person from American history as told by a professional storyteller, with the musical backdrop provided by a professional brass quintet.

The group conducts "instrument petting zoo" workshops for fourth or fifth graders to give students the opportunity to hold and try to play brass instruments. It also provides additional curriculum for classroom and music teachers to use to reinforce the program in the classroom, and gives a grant of elementary school books for the school library or classroom use.

As of this year, Book Readers and Horn Blowers is officially based in Flora. Its program administrator is Carroll County native Michele Robeson Howard.

Book Readers and Horn Blowers is in its 10th year for music and literature education programs. More information can be found at the website, bookreaders4kids.org.