Charity donates stringed instruments to local schools

By RUBEN LOWMAN

Five area schools started off 2023 with new stringed instruments for their students, compliments of local charity South by Southeast.

Black Water Middle School, Myrtle Beach Middle School, North Myrtle Beach Middle School, Ocean Bay Middle School and Ten Oaks Middle School all received new violins and violas for the use of students in their music programs.

South by Southeast (SXSE) was started in 2006 to bring Americana music into the area and to support local school music programs. Known primarily for their concerts, the group has also provided instruments for local schools over the years. Ticket sales from those concerts help provide the money to make these gifts possible, helping the group to share the love of music.

They have also sponsored concerts where the attendees brought instruments no longer used by their families, and SXSE would get them reconditioned and into the hands of eager students.

“It just maes us so happy to be able to do this for our local students,” said Horry County Schools Board Member Nell Ciacco.