Music mission
Sept 2025
Oswego Music Hall of Fame Provides Ukuleles to APW Music StudentsOn a sunny September day, the board members of the Oswego Music Hall of Fame gathered at Altmar-Parish-Wiliamstown Central Elementary School to celebrate the donation of fifteen brand new ukuleles donated by Oswego Music Hall of Fame. The Oswego Music Hall of Fame has a proud history of donating musical instruments to numerous Oswego County schools. For the OMHOF Board members it was such a happy moment to deliver these bright, colorful ukuleles to APW’s Music teacher Wil Patterson. With these fifteen ukuleles, Wil can continue to teach and mentor his students to love and understand the passion for music.Oswego county is a vast and expansive territory with the Altmar-Parish-Wiliamstown Central School District at one end of the county. When the public thinks of Oswego County, APW is generally not the first school district thought of. When the Oswego Music Hall of Fame learned that APW elementary general music teacher Wil Patterson wanted some new musical instruments for his classroom, the entire board was ecstatic. “We are always trying to bring the love of music to the next generation, and this seemed like a great opportunity to provide just that” said Board President Nancy Spereno.These fifteen ukuleles will be used by all grade levels of Wil Patterson’s general music classes. Wil teaches music to pre kindergarteners and every grade level through sixth grade. Hearing knowledge about how the OMHOF contributes to schools in Oswego County and through mutual friends, Wil Patterson was able to contact the Oswego Music Hall of Fame board member Melissa Klefbeck. Melissa brought Wil’s request for ukuleles to the board and motion was made to donate these musical instruments for his classroom. “I had no clue that OMHOF has donated musical instruments in the past. These wonderful gifts will be the first musical instruments some of my students will learn how to play,” said Patterson.Wil Patterson is from the city of Oswego. Wil’s family has always appreciated local music, and they have supported Oswego County musicians. Wil Patterson has been teaching music for twenty years and ten of those years have been at APW. He is an accomplished drummer and is part of the popular band Fatback, a dynamic local trio who you will find playing out and entertaining at local venues in Oswego County and beyond.The Oswego Music Hall of Fame purchased all fifteen ukuleles from Gina Marie’s Music Studio. It is always a great pleasure to be able to shop and buy from a local music proprietor.Wil wanted ukuleles for his classroom because they are an easy instrument to learn how to play and they are accessible for all learners. Wil believes “the ukulele is extremely versatile and a very accessible instrument. The size of the ukulele makes it much easier for a child to play. You do not need as much hand strength to play a ukulele as opposed to a guitar. The ukulele is also a great instrument for young students with small hands and those students with disabilities to learn how to play. Any student regardless of their skills or needs can learn how to play the ukulele.”The public’s donations to the Oswego Music Hall of Hame directly funds scholarships for High School Seniors, free music lessons at local Oswego County music schools, and essential resources like musical instruments for Oswego County children. With your help, we can continue providing life-changing opportunities for young musicians like the students at APW elementary school. For any local music scene to continue, we need to teach a love of music to our children. It is through our schools and their music teachers that the love of music is initially taught to our children. “Many of my students expressed an interest in learning a musical instrument but were not interested in the traditional instruments taught in school such as strings, woodwinds and bass. These ukuleles will provide students with an opportunity to learn a musical instrument. My hope is that by learning the ukulele my students will find their own musical niche. I am very thankful that OMHOF will help students start their own musical journeys”, said APW music teacher Wil Patterson.The board members of the Oswego Music Hall of Fame gather with the Principal of the Altmar-Parish-Wiliamstown Central Elementary School, Dawn Cooley and music teacher Wil Patterson to celebrate the donation of fifteen brand new ukuleles. From left to right: Bill “Fuzzy” Wiltsie, Carol Dillabough, Norman Berlin, Bill “Fuzzy” Wiltsie, Wil Patterson, Dawn Cooley, Nancy Spereno, Melissa Klefbeck and Sonia Lough-Berlin.
