A Love of Music Lives On

They turned a tragic loss into a legacy that will likely impact generations of Holliston students.
Last year, Brian Ahronian, a beloved citizen of Holliston and lover of music, passed away suddenly. His family requested that in lieu of flowers, family and friends make a donation to the Holliston Music and Arts Parents Association, since Brian was a musician and dedicated to supporting music in the public schools. The donations totaled $1,200, and the Brian Ahronian Ukulele Project was born.
Michelle Tate, HMAPA Board member, who attended St. Michael’s church with the Ahronian family and directed their children in choir, saw to it that donations were used in a way that was long-lasting. “It was decided by the Holliston music department to purchase enough ukuleles to start a ukulele program in the 5th grade. We decided to name this program the Brian Ahronian Ukulele Project,” says Tate.
On January 10th, Tate made a presentation of the project to Brian’s family at a memorial dinner. They explained that 28 Makala Soprano ukuleles were purchased for students after much research and several bids. The family was heartened by the program.
“I think it’s wonderful,” says Lisa Ahronian, Brian’s wife. “In my experience, I’ve found that when someone passes away, friends, neighbors, and co-workers really want to help in some way. Brian had such a deep love of music - playing, teaching and performing it. When Brian passed, I knew we had to do something meaningful. So, I suggested to his family that in lieu of flowers, we ask for donations to the HMAPA. They loved the idea. We didn’t realize, of course, what the extent of the generosity would be, and when I heard about what the HMAPA had planned, it made me so happy.” Lisa adds that she was the only member of the family who knew about the project at the memorial dinner, and that the rest of the family “so surprised and happy. I know Brian would be thrilled that a music program would carry his name and have a deep, meaningful and lasting impact on the children of Holliston.”
“I think it’s a great story. My brother Brian touched the lives of many children he taught substituting in area towns,” says Brian’s brother, Mark Ahronian. “He saw and felt the power of music.”
The ukulele project was chosen as a good way to reach out to a significant student population at a critical juncture in their musical development. In a letter thanking the Ahronian family, the HMAPA, along with Holliston music teachers Chrissy Petersen and Lori Anderson York, wrote,” Recently, the ukulele has enjoyed a surge in popularity among young and old, and many school districts already have a ukulele program in place. It is an instrument that many can play with ease and pleasure. It is our hope that with The Brian Ahronian Ukulele Program, a deeper appreciation and love for music will be recognized by our students, and will continue to grow as they do.”
Goals for the students by the end of the year include learning to play three or four chords and accompany themselves while singing a familiar and/or favorite song, and longer term goals include inspiring them to love and participate in music for the rest of their lives.
“The opportunity we have to make music with the ukulele is a wonderful way to build community,” says Anderson York. “The students are so excited to start learning and playing. Some students have even brought in their own ukes and others have talked about buying their own. I even have a fifth grade teacher joining her class to learn to play.”
“It’s easy to learn,” says Tate, “you can instantly be shown a few chords and play it very easily and sing along.” For the 5th graders that aren’t in band, says Tate, this will keep them engaged in music. So far, she says, “the kids are loving it, and I really thing it’s going to make an impact. It’s a way for students to use something by hand rather than use technology,” says Tate – to learn by doing rather than observing.
Tate’s husband and son will be family will be working on the design and construction of a movable storage unit(s) to house the ukuleles, keeping them safe as they are transported from classroom to classroom.
“We are so blessed that the Ahronian family, in their time of loss and grief, thought of the music program in our school district. We play in honor of Brian and hope to instill his love of music in our youth that will continue throughout their time in the Holliston schools and beyond,” says Anderson York.