WINTHROP, Mass. (WHDH) — A very special senior at Winthrop High School, who took her love for music to a whole new level and in the process helped out her hometown.
Kelly Russo, a senior at Winthrop High School, started the organization “Music Matters” and brought back music to Winthrop schools.
When Russo started high school, she found out they had no music program because of budget cuts.
So Russo set out to change that.
“Kids need that creative outlet, that time within the school day or after school, not to be like, ‘Ok, sit in front of a book. Answer these questions.’ But to be like ‘I want to make something and I want to create something,” said Russo.
Her first step to bringing back music was emailing the superintendent of schools who invited her to present her plan.
“When she came to see the school committee, not only did she come, she filled the school committee room with over 300 people,” said Superintendent John Macero.
In just two years, Russo’s “Music Matters”, along with the town, have successfully created and funded music programs at all school levels.
“There’s now a middle school band program, a high school chorus. We’ve given out several scholarships to kids wanting to pursue music,” said Russo.
Russo’s family says her devotion to music is tireless.
Russo says her fight to make music matter is a fight she is happy to have won.
“If you want to improve something and you feel it’s really important, then do something about it,” said Russo.
Kelly hopes to continue her musical education after graduation. One of her top choices is Boston’s Berklee College of Music.