North Central High School band receives grant from Phish-related nonprofit

INDIANAPOLIS — North Central High School’s band program will be receiving some grant funds in honor of Phish’s three-night run at the Ruoff Music Center earlier this month.

According to a news release from the Mockingbird Foundation, North Central High School, which is a part of Washington Township Schools, will receive a $2,000 tour grant. This was one of nine music education grants to schools near each venue on Phish’s 2024 summer tour.

The Mockingbird Foundation is an all-volunteer, fan-founded-and-managed nonprofit organization that supports music education for children. Since 1994, the foundation has provided more than 700 music education-related grants, totaling more than $2.5 million.

The foundation also serves as the leading provider of historical information for Phish, running the Phish.net website and writing multiple books about the band.

“These grants are part of a long-standing effort to help support music education in the local communities that Phish touches,” the release said.

The North Central High School Band is expected to use the $2,000 in grants to provide 80 private lessons to promising musicians in need of additional support, the release said.

The other schools and entities that also received grants as part of the summer tour-related grants include:

• Conservatory Lab Charter School of Dorchester, Massachusetts
• Stonington Public Schools of Stonington, Connecticut
• East Troy School High School Band of East Troy, Wisconsin
• Miriam School and Learning Center of St. Louis, Missouri
• Grand Rapids Public Schools of Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Monticello Central School District of Monticello, New York
• Capital School District/Dover High School Band of Dover, Delaware
• Colorado Nonprofit Development Center of Denver, Colorado.

Phish marked its 30th, 31st and 32nd shows at the Noblesville amphitheater in early August, featuring a “Down With Disease”-filled show on Aug. 2 , a vacuum solo on Aug. 3 and 25+ minute versions of both “Ghost” and “Soul Planet” on Aug. 4 .

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