On Tuesday, Feb. 9, the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation announced the Ginger Paris LCS Strings Fund to support the LCS Strings Program. Named in honor of LCS Strings Director Ginger Paris, the fund will support the program in perpetuity.
Paris is in her 50th year teaching LCS elementary students the Suzuki strings method. With tenacity and dedication, she’s helped to build a remarkable program that has become a beloved local tradition and benefited countless students.
Paul Munro Elementary School students perform at the fund's launch event.
"For the past 50 years, Mrs. Ginger Paris, alongside her fellow strings teachers, has been instrumental in providing the opportunity to learn and appreciate great music,” said donors Terry and Bob Brennan. “The LCS Strings program, unique in the Commonwealth of Virginia, is free to all LCS students and makes a significant impact on their academic experiences, and enriches their lives. With the launch of this fund, we want to honor Mrs. Paris and support the LCS Strings program, ensuring that future generations of students will benefit from this invaluable musical experience.”
This fund will provide an annual grant for the LCS Strings Program through the LCS Education Foundation starting this August. Funds will be used for needs like new equipment, instrument repairs, and the annual LCS Suzuki Festival.
This support will help teachers like Paris continue to leave lasting positive impacts on students’ lives. LCS Strings alumnus Virgil Moore is just one example—he says his time at LCS made a big difference in his career trajectory. He’s currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in violin performance at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, and he plans to obtain a master’s degree in performance in the future.
“The LCS Strings Program does more than provide students with a creative outlet to develop critical skills, but rather introduces them to a world of possibilities in classical music. I’ve pursued my career in the art form, and am endlessly grateful to the many teachers who played a role in my musical journey,” Moore said.
The fund has raised more than $80,000 to date and aims to reach $100,000 with their “Celebrating Lynchburg City Schools Strings: Past, Present, and Future” event on Saturday, April 20 at 6 p.m. LCS Strings alumni who have advanced to professional music careers will unite with current students at the Historic Academy Center of the Arts Theatre to showcase the influence of their music education. Stay tuned for more information.