St. Croix Valley Foundation Awards $42,000 in Music Education Grants to Schools Across the Valley
- maustreng
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
21 schools receive funding to expand access, inspire creativity, and strengthen music education for students.
The St. Croix Valley Foundation has awarded $42,000 in Music Education Grants to 21 K–12 public and private schools across the St. Croix Valley, supporting music programs that expand student access, foster creativity, and strengthen learning through the arts.
Funded projects this year range from hands-on drumming and culturally rooted music experiences, to professional musician residencies, instrument access initiatives, and student
collaborations with composers and ensembles. Highlights include Dakota drumming and
dance performances at Hudson Middle School, a saxophone quartet residency in Glenwood
City, expanded percussion and drumming programs in Chisago Lakes, and new instruments
and ensemble opportunities designed to remove financial barriers for students across the
region.
“What impressed the committee most was the dedication behind these proposals,” said Kris
Tjornehoj, retired Professor of Music from University of Wisconsin River Falls, and volunteer
chair of the Foundation’s Music Education Grant review panel. “Teachers are finding creative
ways to stretch limited resources, remove barriers for students, and build programs that
inspire a lifelong love of music. These grants recognize that commitment and help ensure
students don’t miss out.”
This year, the Foundation received 31 applications requesting more than $116,000,
underscoring both the strong demand for funding and the importance of music education in
schools throughout the region.
2025 Music Education Grant Recipients
The following schools and projects received 2025 Music Education Grants:
School & Project Name | Amount Awarded |
Stillwater High School - Futuristic Cellos | $5,000.00 |
Stillwater Lily Lake Elementary School - Let's Drum! | $4,285.00 |
Unity School District - Mallet Magnificence | $3,295.00 |
Hudson Middle School - Native American (Dakota) Drumming, Dancing and Singing Performance Group | $2,500.00 |
St. Joseph Parish School - Building Strong Foundations: Band Equipment | $2,500.00 |
Stillwater High School - Band collaboration with St. Croix Valley Winds and Composer Oscar Navarro | $2,500.00 |
Taylors Falls Elementary & Chisago Lakes Primary School - Dynamic Drumming | $2,450.00 |
Chisago Lakes Middle School – 2 Majestic 3.5 Octave Xylophone – synthetic bars | $2,412.00 |
Baldwin-Woodville - 88 Reasons to be Keyed Up! | $2,349.00 |
Frederic School District - Tuning up the Ensemble: Securing French Horn & Bass Clarinet Sounds | $2,267.00 |
Hudson School District - Orchestra Program | $2,015.00 |
St. Croix Central High School - Piano Power | $1,867.00 |
Chisago Lakes High School - Clarinet Choir | $1,828.00 |
Rush City High School - Minnesota Percussion Trio Workshop and Performance | $1,800.00 |
Siren Elementary - Trying to Find that Wood Sound (Xylophones), and Siren High School's Drumline | $1,347.00 |
Glenwood City - AIMA Saxophone Quartet Residency | $1,200.00 |
St. Anne Catholic School - Stand by Me | $760.00 |
Chisago Lakes High School - Bring in the PROS! | $500.00 |
Woodbury Middle School - Professional Musician Collaboration Project | $425.00 |
Stillwater Area High School - 2026 District Treble Choir Festival | $400.00 |
Stillwater Oak-Land Middle School - Tenor Bass Choir Festival | $300.00 |
About the Music Education Grant Program
Music Education Grants are made possible through the Music Education Endowed Fund, established in 2002 by longtime music advocate Nyda Swanson, along with support from the St. Croix Valley Foundation and a generous anonymous donor. In 2025, grants were funded through a combination of the endowed fund, unrestricted Foundation resources, and anonymous community support.
Since 2003, the St. Croix Valley Foundation has awarded 313 Music Education Grants totaling more than $742,000 to schools across the Foundation’s six-county region.
These grants make a lasting difference in our schools and communities. Anyone can help sustain and grow music education across the St. Croix Valley by contributing to the Music Education Endowed Fund, ensuring future generations benefit from high-quality music experiences. To donate, visit this link: Music Education Fund.
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