Orchestra donates instruments to Cape music program

The Southern Delaware Orchestra recently donated two timpani, aka kettledrums, to the music program at Cape Henlopen High School.

First used in orchestras more than 300 years ago, timpani traditionally have a large copper bowl, though some modern drums have bowls made of fiberglass. They are generally struck with felt-tipped wooden sticks called mallets. The drumhead membrane covering the bowl can be stretched with a pedal to create different pitches to match what the orchestra or band is playing. Most orchestras and bands use three or four timpani in differing sizes that can be tuned to a range of notes. The timpani donated to Cape High are professional-quality drums with copper bowls that have a nice, resonant sound. 

The high school had been looking for a few years at upgrading their timpani from older models to more professional-quality instruments. Former Cape music teacher Ken Schleifer reached out to Christopher Burkhart, Cape band director, when an opportunity came up for the school to acquire the upgraded timpani with support from Southern Delaware Orchestra and its lead percussionist and timpanist, Stephen Mohr. The donated drums are upgrading two of the four timpani at Cape High, and the replaced drums will find new homes at the middle schools, upgrading their setups from two timpani to three.

“We are beyond grateful for this generous donation,” said Burkhart. “These instruments will not only elevate the quality of our performances, but also give our students the opportunity to learn and perform on professional-level equipment. Investments like this make a lasting impact on our program and help our young musicians reach their full potential.”

Burkhart said this type of high-quality instrument donation helps students effectively develop their skills, especially those who go on to perform in college and professional environments. “These drums will not only support the percussionists that get to play them, but also the other players in the ensembles that get to blend with the sound they produce,” he said.

“It’s an honor to support the music program with this donation,” said Mohr. “Music education plays such an important role in shaping students’ creativity, discipline and teamwork. By providing these timpani, Southern Delaware Orchestra hopes to give students access to the tools they need to grow as musicians, and to continue building on a program the entire community is already very proud of.”