A surprise gift to Carnegie Hall musicians

Getting to Carnegie Hall was made much sweeter for 69 members of the Walnut Hills Wind Ensemble last week, when Cincinnati financier Carl Lindner sent a surprise gift to them as they boarded buses Thursday night. After reading the article in Thursday's Enquirer about the youngsters who had won a spot to play on Carnegie Hall's legendary New York stage Saturday morning for the National Invitational Band and Orchestra Festival, Lindner had a courier deliver $300 cash for each student and chaperone to spend on the Big Apple trip.

According to band director Kerry Kruze, the wind ensemble impressed the judges, who commented "these kids can play anything."

Thanks to all the parents who are sending me comments about the story. Here are a few:

"It is nice to see front-page coverage of the arts, one of Cincinnati's great strengths, and also to see an article that (indirectly) promotes CPS schools. Our son is an 8th-grade clarinet player in the Wind Ensemble, and is absolutely thrilled to be playing at Carnegie Hall. ... there was a brief delay after the kids packed their stuff on the buses, while the band director's wife made a very important announcement: It turns out that Carl Lindner had seen your article in the paper and decided to send letters of congratulations and a gift of spending money to each of the band members and chaperones." Bill Gordon, parent of band member David Gordon-Johnson.

"Our son is one of the 69. We know he will have a tremendous experience. Walnut Hills High School is one of the jewels of this city. Your accurate observation of the wonderful musical work being done there beneath dripping ceilings provides a metaphor for the whole program. Read 'dripping ceilings' for severe budgetary pressures on staffing and other needs affecting the whole program. The truly dedicated teachers and administration deliver an outstanding classical high school program combining academics, the arts and physical education under often challenging circumstances. ... Thank you again for highlighting the incredible potential for this public school to enrich the community life of our city. Hopefully stories like yours will remind our school district, city and state leadership of what we have there and why it is so important to support it along with other excellent public school programs." Frank Chaiken, WHHS class of 1978