Announced in March 2018, The Preservation Hall Foundation’s Sousafund was born when Ben Jaffe’s sousaphone was stolen. Eventually, the treasured instrument found its way back home, but Jaffe wanted to use the opportunity to create a lingering, positive effect on the music community in New Orleans.

“One of the challenges for aspiring bass and tuba players is the cost of professional quality instruments,” Jaffe explains. “It is oftentimes a barrier to pursuing their dreams. In response to the loss of my instrument, so many reached out with offers to replace my horn. I wanted to harness this heartfelt enthusiasm to put instruments into the hands of aspiring musicians.”

As such, he and the Foundation launched the Sousafund for at-risk students in an effort to provide them basses and tubas to use in school music programs. Now, the application is open to students who live in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. The application is available here and the deadline is Monday, December 3, 2018.

According to a press release, “Preservation Hall Foundation retains ownership while they are being used. If a student decides to pursue a career in music, including applying to music schools across the country, the instrument ownership is passed on to the student.”