Cullman Middle School Band Director Linda Bean, from left, speaks with Ray and Benton Buchmann after they donated a Gemeinhardt flute to the band Thursday morning.

The Cullman Middle School Band received a new instrument Thursday thanks to a donation from Ray and Benton Buchmann.

After giving a trumpet to the band last October, the Buchmanns returned Thursday to donate a Gemeinhardt flute to enable more students to be able to participate in the band. 

Ray said he and Benton have given a total of 10 instruments to the band over the last several years, 

Buchmann comes from a musical family. His father had an orchestra that played at events around Cullman, and he played in orchestras for the school band when he was younger.

After all of the orchestra’s instruments were no longer in use, the Buchmanns sold them and turned that money around to buy instruments that they donate to CMS every year. They aim to donate one every year, he said. 

CMS Band Director Linda Bean said the instruments are usually used in special circumstances such as when a student is just starting out in the band and needs to save up some money for an instrument of their own, or when a student’s instrument has been sent off for repairs. 

During those situations, a band member would usually be unable to practice until they got their instrument, but because of the Buchmanns’ donations, there are instruments available for them to use, she said. 

“We’re just very grateful for their generosity in giving back to the Cullman Band program,” she said.