Donate instruments at LINKS drive on May 10-11

CCM, Willis Music and Buddy Roger’s Music partner to connect lonely instruments to young students

Do you have a musical instrument collecting dust? Your gift could provide the missing link for a promising young musician! Through the Lonely Instruments for Needy Kids (LINKS) program, you can donate your used band or orchestra instrument to a young musician who cannot afford to rent or purchase their own.

The LINKS instrument donation drive is at 10 a.m.-4 p.m. this Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11 2024, at any Willis Music or Buddy Rogers Music location. 

A project of CCMpower in partnership with Willis Music and Buddy Roger’s Music, LINKS began in 1994 as the brainchild of CCM alumnus Bill Harvey (BM Music Education, 1971). The owner of Buddy Roger’s Music, Harvey wanted to fill the need for students whose parents were unable to buy, rent or borrow an instrument. The solution was to create a “recycling program” for musical instruments.

LINKS accepts donations of new and used instruments from the Greater Cincinnati community, then places them with students in local elementary, middle and high school bands and orchestras, as well as with students in CCM Prep programs. Students are qualified by the recommendation of their music teacher, and a LINKS scholarship application is submitted in the student’s name.

Even if the instrument is not in perfect condition, donations are gladly accepted. Buddy Roger’s Music generously contributes the time to carefully clean, restore and tune each instrument. In addition to the May 10 and 11 collection days, instruments are accepted year-round at Buddy Roger’s Music. For more information on LINKS visit the Willis Music website.

LINKS Instrument Donation Drive

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday, May 10-Saturday, May 11

Donations accepted at any Willis Music or Buddy Rogers Music location:

  • Buddy Rogers Music Repair Shop/Showroom, 6891 Simpson Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45239
  • Willis Music West Chester, 7850 Cox Rd., West Chester, OH 45069
  • Willis Music Eastgate, 4450 Eastgate South Dr,, Cincinnati, OH 45245
  • Willis Music Kenwood, 8118 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236
  • Willis Music, Florence, 7567 Mall Rd., Florence, KY 41042
  • Willis Music Lexington, 130 W. Tiverton Way, Lexington, KY 40503

Featured image at the top of musical instruments courtesy of Istock.

Additional Contacts

Curt Whitacre | Director of Marketing/Communications | UC College-Conservatory of Music

| 513-556-2683

Related Stories

1

UC launches Bearcats Affordability Grant

January 7, 2026

The University of Cincinnati is making college more attainable for students across Ohio with the creation of the Bearcats Affordability Grant. The new grant will provide a pathway to tuition-free college for students of families who make less than $75,000 per year. Beginning in fall 2026, the Bearcats Affordability Grant will cover the remaining cost of tuition for Ohio residents who are Pell eligible.

3

UC Board votes to fund design for YMCA renovation

October 28, 2025

At its October 28, 2025 meeting, the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees approved $5 million in funding to complete all design and pre-construction services required to renovate the interior of a former YMCA building located at 270 Calhoun Street.