Front row, L to R: Davis, Smith and Strausser. Back row, L to R: Rotarian Judith Hughes, Superintendent Brian White, Rotarian Ben Robertson, Principal Vanessa Boyd and Instrument Instructor Cortney Christoforetti.
Local Service Organizations Awarded $3,500 Matching Grant by Rotary District 7280 to Further Music Education at Broad Street Elementary School in Butler, PA
The Harrisville Satellite Rotary Club in partnership with the Rotary Club of Slippery Rock was recently awarded a $3,500 matching grant by Rotary District 7280 to purchase refurbished musical instruments for orchestral scholars * at the Broad Street Elementary School (BSES) in Butler, PA. On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Rotarians Judith Hughes, Ben Robertson and Steven Plavny presented these instruments to a group of Broad Street scholars, their Principal Vanessa Boyd, Superintendent Brian White of the Butler Area School Board and Instrument Instructor Cortney Christoforetti.
Ben Robertson of Blackwood Arts in Marion Township, a non-profit organization dedicated to music scholarship, spearheaded the Rotary effort in purchasing 9 instruments from Murphy’s Music Center, Leechburg, PA. This included: 2 violins, 3 trumpets, 2 alto saxophones, 1 clarinet and 1 flute. An advocate for music education in public schools, Murphy’s also provided bows, cases, reeds and other ancillaries required for proper care of each instrument.
Robertson explained that each instrument would be assigned to scholars to study and play in the school orchestra during their years at BSES. Once a student graduates to middle school, these instruments will go to other scholars at the school. With this rotation, more scholars will be able to experience the academic benefits and social opportunities provided by creating live music.
“The BSES Community Partners have created a reservoir of resources that support the inquisitive nature of the BSES scholar,” said Principal Boyd. “The Rotary Clubs of Slippery Rock and Harrisville, in collaboration with Blackwood Arts and Murphy’s Music, added musical instruments to the BSES reservoir. These gifts will provide musical opportunities to the 49 scholars who committed to playing an instrument this school year.” She stressed, “Music on our Broad Street campus is a gateway to future life-long opportunities. I am one grateful principal.”
Over the past six months, Rotarian Robertson has dedicated time and money to support the development of a music program for BSES, including the donation of a piano and installation of a sound system in the campus auditorium. A group of BSES scholars visited the Blackwood Arts Center this fall and experienced the center’s pipe organ rising out of the floor playing music from their favorite movies, including: “Harry Potter,” “Frozen” and “Star Wars.”
The Broad Street Elementary School Community prefers the use of “scholars” instead of “students” to emphasize the importance of life-long academic success, scholarship, problem-solving skills and intellectual curiosity.
L to R: White, Boyd, Christoforetti, Hughes and Robertson.
Superintendent Brian White, Principal Vanessa Boyd and Instrument Instructor Cortney Christoforetti explain their vision for Butler’s Broad Street Elementary School Orchestra with Rotarians Judy Hughes and Ben Robertson of the Slippery Rock and Harrisville Rotary Clubs, respectively. Hughes and Robertson spearheaded efforts to donate nine instruments in support of the school’s new orchestral program.
Front row, L to R: Davis, Smith and Strausser. Back row, L to R: Rotarian Judith Hughes, Superintendent Brian White, Rotarian Ben Robertson, Principal Vanessa Boyd and Instrument Instructor Cortney Christoforetti.
Smiles were the order of the day for orchestral scholars at Butler’s Broad Street when Rotarians Judy Hughes, Ben Robertson and Steven Plavny delivered 2 violins, 3 trumpets, 2 alto saxophones, 1 clarinet and 1 flute for use in the school’s new orchestral program. Scholars Chyna Davis and Annabelle Strausser enthusiastically embraced their new violins and eagerly look forward to playing them in the school orchestra with classmate Caitlin Smith.
Superintendent Brian White of the Butler Area School Board demonstrates his musical prowess on the trumpet and explains the importance of taking proper care of their new instruments to orchestral scholars at the Broad Street Elementary School with Principal Vanessa Boyd.