ADA, Okla. (KFOR) – A surprise guest led to a surprise gift for Ada High School Monday afternoon.
Hundreds of students filled the seats at the Cougar Activity Center for what seemed to be a talk about music. The pitch in the room hit a high note when country music superstar and 1994 Ada graduate, Blake Shelton, walked on stage.
He was there to present a gift of more than $5,000 in guitars, drums, amps, and equipment to the school. The donation was from non-profit organization, Music Will, which works to revitalize and expand music in schools.
Shelton spoke to the students for several minutes before announcing the gift. He told the students that he drew his inspiration for his career from his hometown.
“You know, driving back roads and growing up and fishing every day,” said Shelton. “(It) truly was just this area and my friends and family that encouraged me.”
Shelton even donated one of his own guitars to the school. He learned to play the instrument from his uncle.
“Once I got a driver's license, I would drive to their house almost every day and sit around for an hour with his acoustic guitar. And he taught me just the little bit that he knew,” said Shelton.
Three Ada music students were able to question Shelton about his career. All three said they had no idea who was coming, just that they had the chance to ask the “special guest” questions.
“I was shaking, like, this is insane,” said Kellen Stuart, an Ada senior.
Addison Perez said she spotted Shelton in the parking lot before she walked in to be part of the student Q&A portion of the gift presentation.
“I started freaking out,” said Perez, an Ada senior.
The gift, which was made up of not only instruments but also curriculum and resources, will open up more possibilities for non-traditional school music programs.
“It just broadens the range of our play, “said Logan Briscoe, an Ada sophomore.
Richard Howard has been the band director at the high school for 12 years.
“Some kids don't think they necessarily would enjoy concert band music or marching band music and all that goes into that. And it gives it gives it another place where more kids can belong,” said Howard.
Bryan Powell is the chief program officer at Music Will. He said the non-profit works with the music teachers here to provide professional development.
“If we can expand access through these types of instruments, songwriting playing in a in a modern band, that sort of opportunity, it's going to bring more students in who might not be already participating in school music,” said Powell.
