Chambersburg student to be surprised with saxophone from Grammy-winning musician
A Grammy-winning musician set up a contest to win one of his instruments, and that instrument is going to a student in the Susquehanna Valley.
The student doesn't know it yet, and it's all thanks to a former principal in the Chambersburg School District.
Multi-platinum-selling saxophonist Najee is giving away the saxophone he played in his latest album.
"I'm excited to see the outcome," he said.
One of the 250 submissions Najee received was a letter from Barry Purvis, the former Chambersburg High School principal.
Before retiring, Purvis enjoyed listening to students play jazz. He said if he won the contest, he'd give the instrument to one of them.
"I'm sitting here watching these kids play. Wouldn't it be nice if I could win a sax, give it to some kid who could play in this jazz band," he said.
"His stood out among all the others because he's a teacher, he's an educator, obviously, and he has access to young kids who may not have the money to spend on a saxophone like that," Najee said.
At a recent jazz concert in Virginia, Purvis got called up on stage and was announced as the winner.
"The student will be very, very pleased. His mom will be shocked because I know her. I know his mother," Purvis said.
"I hope it means a lot. I mean, from what I understand, he has a desire, and that's what it takes for most kids to do anything like what we do in music," Najee said.
Not only will one student be going home with the sax – worth thousands of dollars – he'll also get something that could be considered priceless: personal lessons from Najee. Those lessons will be done online.
The student will be surprised with the instrument Monday night during a jazz concert at Chambersburg Middle School.