We Are Instrumental

Founder, Evan Mack's personal encounter with the dire state of musical instruments in Ticonderoga, NY, catalyzed the inception of We Are Instrumental (WAI) in early 2020. Mack, an educator and professional composer, witnessed his son's dismay over the bruised and battered instruments used by his peers highlighted the pervasive barriers to a quality musical education in Northern New York. With students unable to afford their own instruments, schools bore the burden, exacerbated by years of declining arts funding and limited access to repair services. Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, WAI was established as a 501(c)(3) organization in 2022, committed to enhancing accessibility to musical education for children across the Adirondack Region. By providing well-working instruments, dynamic enrichment opportunities, and professional development for teachers, WAI seeks to address systemic challenges and empower students to pursue their musical passions. To date, WAI has donated over 450 instruments, valued between yet the true impact transcends mere statistics, resonating profoundly within the communities it serves.