In August of 2010 a group of 14 members of the Rotary Club of Hibbing met with the District 5580 Visioning Team to create a "Vision" for the Hibbing Club. Ideas and brainstorming where presented, written down and discussed. After an intense evening of dreaming and brainstorming the results where complied and presented to the club. Ideas where prioritized and a timeline for implementation discussed. One idea presented at our club visioning was the vision of a Rotary Scholarship for the Music & Arts to allow children of low income families to participate. As a result of that Visioning;

The Rotary Club of Hibbing board member Tim Kaminski is pleased to present the first check from the Hibbing Rotary "Clyde Hill" Music Fund to Julie Stein Director of the Crescendo Youth Orchestra to cover the expense of lessons and participation in Crescendo Youth Orchestra for a young student.  The Rotary "Clyde Hill Music" Scholarship was established to provide opportunities for youth (Ages 7 to 18) to participate in accredited music programs regardless of income. The scholarship fund is named after former Rotary Club of Hibbing and Rotary District 5580 "song leader" Clyde Hill, a past Hibbing music teacher was widely known for his enthusiastic and colorful methods of teaching which inspired many children in Hibbing as well as kept many Rotarians signing boisterously at their meetings.

The Crescendo Youth Orchestra, which provides accredited music lessons and orchestra experience to 70 students in the Hibbing and the Floodwood areas, is participating in partnership with the Rotary Club of Hibbing in a special program that allows for a portion of the funds to be granted as a loan to cover the expenses of music lessons. It is later paid back by an assignment of the Minnesota K-12 Education Credit to pay back the scholarship fund. These funds can then be used to fund students the next year.

The Rotary Club of Hibbing will be raising funds for this scholarship program on an ongoing basis with the goal of eventually providing the opportunity to all interested children to learn to play music and participate in an orchestra. As a new program, the scholarship and loan program is now limited to low income families. As we grow the fund it is hoped we can expand to include all students interested in music.

If you wish to donate to the success of this new and unique scholarship program please make your checks payable to the Rotary "Clyde Hill" Music Fund and mail them to Rotary Club of Hibbing, PO Box 174, Hibbing MN 55746 or contact Tim Kaminski.