UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The College of Arts and Architecture’s School of Music at Penn State has donated more than 200 sets of gently used strings to young musicians in South America, and with enthusiasm around the program building, more are on the way.
The used string initiative is part of Strings4All, an ongoing resource-sharing project organized by Harmonic Progression that collects used instrument strings in the United States, Europe and Australasia, and gives them new life by distributing them to musicians in need across South America and Thailand.
The efforts at Penn State were started in 2024 by then-graduate student and violinist Tim McClure. Under the supervision of Jim Lyon, professor of violin, McClure gathered strings from students, faculty and local musicians and donated them to youth orchestral organizations in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Lima, Peru.
“The Penn State School of Music is in good company, joining musicians from the Verbier Festival, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and several other well-regarded orchestras in donating,” McClure said. “It is my hope the program continues at Penn State for many years to come.”
To build on McClure’s efforts, graduate student and violinist Susanna Aung has volunteered to lead the initiative at Penn State.
“This project, to me, has opened so many doors of opportunity for young students,” Aung said. “Through our contribution, many young people will gain access to music and art in a more affordable way.”
Sets of quality strings typically range from $100 to $500, and in some cases an instrument like the double bass can push the cost closer to $1,000.
Making music more accessible globally fits well with the mission of the School of Music and Penn State more broadly, Aung said.
“The mission of Penn State’s School of Music is to inspire and educate musicians within a diverse and inclusive community,” Aung said. “I believe this mission aligns closely with that of Strings4All, which strives to create a world where everyone — regardless of age, race or gender — has equal opportunity to experience and pursue the arts at a higher level.”
String collection is underway, with the next shipment scheduled to go out in the spring of 2026. Those interested in donating strings can contact Susanna Aung at ska6626@psu.edu.