Matanuska Music recognized for helping youth

WASILLA — Matanuska Music’s commitment to community has hit a high note with the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce.

Following years of providing the Mat-Su Valley with musical instruments, lessons, its time and money, Matanuska Music owners Ana and Hank Hartman were presented the Youth Friendly Business Award from Spirit of Youth at Tuesday’s chamber luncheon.

“We really believe in putting something back into the community,” Ana Hartman said.

A program called The Beat Goes On allows the Hartmans to do just that, she said. When instruments are donated to Matanuska Music or local schools, the music store refurbishes the instruments for free and returns them to schools.

“We know there are kids outs there that need certain instruments,” Hank Hartman said.

Katherine Parker and Valerie Schleich, both members of Spirit of Youth, presented the Hartmans with the honor in front of a packed crowd at the Grand View Inn.

The Hartmans provide the Valley with more than just a music store, Parker said. They support local music events and groups like Music in the Park and the Just Plain Jazz Band.

“They just do some much to better the community,” she said.

When Schleich interviewed Ana Hartman for the award the teenager could tell Matanuska Music would be a prime candidate, she said. Hartman made the process easy, supplying as much time as was needed for the interview and creating a comfortable atmosphere.

“It’s that kind of one-on-one conversation that shows how dedicated she is to helping us and helping kids in general,” Schleich said. The Hartmans understand it takes musical experience, not simply a salesperson, to introduce kids to music and provide them with a useful instrument.

“If all we wanted to do was sell instruments, much like an Internet service, we would pull it off the shelf and say, ‘Here you go,’ but that doesn’t work,” Hank Hartman said. “It may work for some people, but for a person begging to develop a lifelong passion they really need to get the help and follow-through.”

His involvement with music began in the fifth grade when he began playing the trombone. Hank Hartman continued playing music throughout school and when he joined the U.S. Air Force he became a member of the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific. After retiring from the service he was an instrumental part of the creation of the Wasilla Community Band — Wasilla’s first marching band.

Matanuska Music is located in Wasilla at 1803 E. Parks Highway Suite A-117. For more information about Matanuska Music visit www.matmusic.com or call 376-4006.

Contact Chris Gillow at 352-2284 or chris.gillow@frontiersman.com.