All City Music Festival spotlights fifth‑grade band pilot and foundation grants

At the All City Music Festival at the University of Illinois Springfield auditorium, Springfield Public Schools highlighted a pilot fifth‑grade band program and foundation grants that organizers said are supporting instruments and teacher-led projects across District 186.

The festival, organized by the district’s fine arts office, opened with a short performance from the fifth‑grade band and included more than 100 students across elementary, middle and high school ensembles. Amy Mancha, fine arts coordinator for Springfield SD 186, said the program aims to make music education “not just extra or luxury. It is essential.”

The fifth‑grade band pilot meets twice a week after school at Washington (students are bused there from their elementary schools), instructors said; the pilot takes beginners from no prior experience to performing with a larger ensemble. Kitty Elssoff, identified in the program as a band director at I O School and a fifth‑grade band instructor, described the pilot as being in its second (year/term) and noted the twice‑weekly instruction and bussing arrangement.

Kendra Newman, president of the Springfield Public Schools Foundation, told the audience the foundation has been a primary sponsor of evening programs and classroom grants. Newman said the foundation had “dispersed over $130,000 this school year,” and that “more than $8,000” of that funding went directly to musical educators and materials for events such as the festival. She encouraged teachers to apply for the foundation’s Cornerstone grant, the extracurricular activity grant, and the Mike Zimmer professional development grant; applications are available on the foundation page of the district website.

Jennifer Gill, superintendent of Springfield SD 186, thanked the foundation, the University of Illinois Springfield and volunteers for supporting the event and said early music exposure matters: “Engagement, joy and fun is what’s brought for musical endeavors,” she said, noting that many high‑school performers began in elementary music programs such as the fifth‑grade band.

The program also featured guest conductors and clinicians from area universities and schools, including directors working with middle and high school choirs and bands. Organizers asked families of the fifth‑grade performers to meet students at the stage curtains for pickup and noted transitions between grade levels during the program.

The festival organizers and foundation representatives reiterated that grant applications remain open for the school year and pointed audiences to the Springfield Public Schools Foundation page on the district website for application details and further information.