MichiganRadio

DSO Gets $1 Million from Honda ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - The Detroit Symphony Orchestra announced today that Honda has given the DSO a $1 million gift.

The money will help fund a new music education program for under-served communities in southeast Michigan.

It's called the Power of Dreams String Project.

The DSO's current education programs train middle school students. The Honda-funded program will put instruments in the hands of third graders.

Charles Burke says that early introduction makes a big differences.

Burke is the DSO's Director of Education:

"This gives us the opportunity to get right at the beginning and teach them in a very quality manner, to get them exposed to world class musicians."

Currently, only 30% of Detroit Public Schools offer music education programs. Burke hopes this new program - which begins this fall - will help fill that void. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio