Grants in Action: Raising the Sound, Removing Barriers

Fueling Passion, Participation, and Pride at Kingston Middle School

At Kingston Middle School, music isn’t just an elective; it’s an opportunity for students to find confidence, connection, and creativity. Thanks to support from the North Kitsap Schools Foundation, that opportunity just became more accessible to more students.

Last year, an NKSF grant helped repair 23 school-owned band instruments, ensuring they are once again ready for student use. From flutes and clarinets to trumpets, trombones, baritones, tubas, and more, at least one instrument in every category was restored and returned to the classroom. These instruments are now available to the more than 100 students enrolled in the Kingston Middle School Band Program, removing financial barriers and expanding access to music education.

More Than Repairs—It’s Access, Belonging, and Opportunity

Programs like music, art, and athletics do more than build skills. They give students a reason to show up. They create a sense of belonging, instill passion, and spark confidence. For many students, these programs are where they find their people, discover their strengths, and feel proud of what they can accomplish.

For Band Director Rosanna Lampano, the goal was clear: remove financial barriers and strengthen the program’s sound. With more instruments available, students who need loaners can fully participate without incurring additional costs for their families. The expanded inventory also allows for more diverse instrumentation, giving students exposure to lesser-known instruments and opening the door to more challenging repertoire.

One standout example came when two students learned that newly repaired bass clarinets were available. Both chose to transition from standard clarinet to bass clarinet. Their excitement was immediate, and so was the impact. They found greater success, gained confidence, and elevated the ensemble's overall sound, strengthening the entire band.

A Sound That Brings a Community Together

Every repaired instrument represents more than a mechanical fix. It represents a student who gets to play. A family that gets to sit in the audience and feel proud. A school community that gathers to celebrate concerts, assemblies, and performances.

These instruments will serve Kingston Middle School students for years to come - supporting access, building school spirit, and reinforcing something we all know to be true: when we invest in the programs that students love, we strengthen their connection to school and to each other.

This is Grants in Action: supporting students, fueling school pride, and strengthening community—one note at a time.