Introducing the Meru Music Project

Instrumental music is alive and thriving at the Bishop Lawi Imathiu Secondary School (BLISS) in Meru, Kenya and lives are being transformed through music education. BLISS is the least expensive and one of the newest secondary schools in Kenya. The first graduating class in 2007 sent every student forward with a diploma and two-thirds who qualified for higher education. These students represent the poorest students in Meru and the first in their families to attend secondary school. Currently 257 students attend BLISS and soon, each student will have to opportunity to participate in music courses as part of their curriculum.

Two years ago, retired Ann Arbor, MI music teacher Larry Dittmar, began an instrumental music program with dozens of recorders and 194 students. While the students learned how to read music, Larry gathered more than 80 donated instruments to deliver to Meru last February and a helping hand to implement the first instrumental music program this summer.

Stanford Thompson will spend eight weeks, beginning July 2009, working closely with the BLISS principal, Moses Marete, and the three neighborhood primary schools to add music classes to the school curriculum. He will also direct and expand the local community music program available for Meru adults and create a summer music program for the students to sharpen their musical skills.

Mr. Thompson was raised in Decatur, GA where he attended Southwest DeKalb and North Springs High Schools. Stanford earned his Bachelor of Music at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA where he held the William A. Loeb Fellowship. He has performed extensively throughout the United States, Asia and Europe and runs several musical organizations that engage under-served communities in America.



This project is made possible by the Kenya Urithi Education Fund. Donations are tax deductible and can be sent to 3456 Gettysburg Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.