After four hours of driving through the boundless countryside, we stepped foot into the town of Tonasket, Washington. The middle school and high school were interconnected within the same structure. We signed in at the reception desk and were swiftly greeted by two freshman boys who helped us transport our instruments from the car trunk to the school music room. It was delightful to finally meet Mr. Eric Stiles, the music director at Tonasket, with whom months of email communication had fostered a trustworthy partnership. We displayed our drum set, saxophone, two flutes, two trumpets, two cornets, two clarinets, eight recorders, ukulele, and other musical tools at the front of the classroom for the high school band class. I provided a brief presentation on the non-profit's inception and our mission. Listening to the students play Michael Jackson's Thriller and Beat It on their new instruments was inspiring and we felt genuine pride in our work. 

Around noon, the school district superintendent Mr. Steve McCullough joined us for a lunch interview at a local Mexican restaurant. We discussed the goals of his programs for the future and he offered us invaluable connections to other superintendents across the state. 

In the afternoon, we returned to Mr. Stiles' classroom to observe his middle school band class. I provided a summary of our organization once more and thanked the students for their collaboration with NWIC. Then, as a student conductor myself, I was graciously offered to conduct class by Mr. Stiles. It was a challenging and special experience; I developed an immense appreciation for his work and discovered that energizing the students with encouragement was most rewarding.

Though our time at Tonasket Middle and High School was all-absorbing and exhilarating, the day came to a close after a final conversation with Mr. Stiles and the school principal. Soon, we were back on the road, smiling and eager to begin reaching out to other schools for partnerships. The most striking statement I heard today was that, according to the superintendent, our work with NWIC is addressing the single greatest hurdle in school music programs in rural Washington State: we are successfully attempting to overcome poverty and inaccessibility by finding and providing instruments to talented and motivated students.