photo by: Band of Angels

A student receives an instrument as a part of the "Band of Angels" program created by Meyer Music Stores and WDAF-TV Fox 4.

Three organizations are collecting donated instruments in Lawrence to refurbish and give to students who otherwise couldn’t afford to play music.

The Lawrence initiative is a joint effort between Meyer Music Stores of the Kansas City area, the Duke Ellington Legacy – a jazz ensemble dedicated to performing and keeping the music of Duke Ellington alive – and Liberty Hall.

The Band of Angels program – which is a nonprofit partnership between WDAF-TV Fox 4 and Meyer Music to collect, refurbish and distribute musical instruments to children in need – inspired Lawrence effort, Tom Alexios, director of outreach programs for the Duke Ellington Family, said.

Band of Angels was founded in 2010, and Mike Meyer, co-owner of Meyer Music Stores, said over the past 15 years, it has distributed over 4,500 instruments to students who didn’t have the funds to buy or rent an instrument.

photo by: Band of Angels

A student is awarded a violin from “Band of Angels.”

“Most places have the ability to collect the instruments, but then they don’t have the ability to really do anything with them after that,” Meyer said. “And so we’re excited that we can help with initiatives like this.”

All of the donated instruments will be restored to playing condition for students before they receive them, and for the instruments that cannot be restored, they will be used for parts to repair other instruments or for another Meyer Music Stores’ program, “Art That Blows,” where local artists take instrument parts to create art pieces.

Meyer said that while many donated instruments his stores receive are beyond repair, their parts will still be put to use. Through the art program, local artists will be invited to select instrument pieces for free to create artwork, which will later be featured in a silent auction in the summer.

Meyer said this year, at least 60 artists will be showcasing their art at the event, and the money raised will support the mission of “Band of Angels” and go towards summer music scholarships for kids.

“We get far more out of that than we would taking an instrument to a recycling center and getting scrap pricing for it,” Meyer said. ” … It’s just a really neat way to take that instrument that really isn’t usable and give it a new life as now something that people can admire in their home.”

photo by: Art That Blows

An art piece created for the “Art That Blows” program by Meyer Music Stores.

Alexios said right now, it’s all about getting the word out about the program and making neighborhood schools aware that donations are being accepted at Liberty Hall.

“And then, once we know what we have, then we know where we can go with it,” Alexios said. “It’ll be easy to find where the need is.”

Alexios said giving students instruments and the opportunity to play music will benefit them in a variety of ways – on and off the stage.

“What we’re trying to do as a team is encouraging young kids to have the opportunity to play music, and with that, there’s a lot of subtle messages that come with it,” Alexios said. “It’s the discipline of focusing on something. It is the discipline of being able to work as a group. It is the disciple of how you present yourself, these things all present in our lives off the stage. So it’s the practice of what is in the real world to become adaptable.”

In addition, Alexios said he also hopes the program will also look to support musical therapy programs for young people and seniors throughout the community. He said the students who receive an instrument from the program, could have a chance to perform for the local retirement community as a form of musical therapy.

“We not only want to make sure we’re giving an instrument to a boy or girl who doesn’t have the economic resources, we also want to reach out and see what we can do to help using music to help … young and old people in so many different ways,” Alexios said.

Music therapy can include a range of activities, such as listening to music, songwriting, or performing. According to Mayo Clinic Press, it offers several benefits — from improving memory recall in people with Alzheimer’s disease and easing tremors in those with Parkinson’s disease to lowering blood pressure. It can also boost mood while reducing stress and anxiety.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Tom Alexios, director of outreach programs for the Duke Ellington Family, (left) and Josh Millstein, co-owner of Liberty Hall, (right) stand inside Liberty Hall on Wednesday, March 5, 2026.

Joshua Millstein, co-owner of Liberty Hall, said the venue – which is celebrating its 170th anniversary this year – is considering hosting a recital featuring children who receive instruments through the program as a way to give back to the community for its donations and introduce a new generation of musicians to the stage.

“I think just giving another very healthy avenue for kids to grow is what it’s all about,” Millstein said. “And in the long run, also allowing them to come back and establish this relationship with Liberty Hall and everything that this place represents.”

Meyer said one thing he’s learned after working with over 70 school districts in Kansas and Missouri is that there’s a need in every community, and the most rewarding part about doing this work is not having to say no to kids who can’t afford to play.

“Kids (used to) come in and want to play, and we were not able to help them get an instrument because they couldn’t afford to pay for the instrument,” Meyer said. “Now, we don’t have to say no to virtually anybody for lack of funds. They may not be able to rent the brand new instrument that is shining, … but we can provide them an instrument that is going to play and will be good for them to be in the school program, just like anybody else.”

People can drop off donated instruments at the Liberty Hall Ticket Office, 644 Massachusetts St., from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Tickets for “Art That Blows” will be available starting March 25. The event will be held on Friday, July 10, at The Abbott, 1901 Cherry St. in Kansas City, Missouri.