Hip-hop artist Ludacris visits HML, marching band gets new instruments

Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High’s marching band needed new instruments. So the school applied to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, established by Michael Kamen. He composed the score for the 1995 film “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” about an inspirational composer turned music teacher. The foundation donates instruments to schools that can’t afford to replace what wears out. On Jan. 30, the foundation along with representatives from ticket reseller StubHub and hip-hop musician and actor Ludacris presented 36 new instruments to the Trojans at their campus, at 7977 W. 12th Ave. in Hialeah. The kids will get to play a marimba, eight trombones, three double basses; a baritone saxaphone; six alto saxaphones; six flutes; a tenor saxaphone; three clarinets; two double French horns and five marching baritones, worth $75,644. The young musicians are shown above with Ludacris (whose real name is Chris Bridges), center back row, in the black and blue T-shirt.