Music in the Schools, Inc. (MITS) is a non-profit organization run by Portland high school students passionate about music education. Founded in 2007, MITS has raised over $45,000 for PPS music education through a series of benefit concerts hosted at local venues, in the past 6 years. The money we raise is split evenly between the several PPS high schools, providing much needed support to programs struggling for funding. In this time of budget cuts and economic uncertainty, raising money for the arts becomes especially important. As students, we are passionate in our belief that music plays an important role in our high school curriculum and want to make sure it survives as a value in public education. We also feel that the traditional music program isn’t for everyone, which is why we’ve begun to host high school band showcases and battles of the bands. These events give students the opportunity to perform for a paying audience alongside established adult acts, an experience invaluable to aspiring musicians.
