A Bridgeport high school received a generous gift that will be instrumental in its music department's future.

Lucia Palmieri from Westport is an opera singer who wanted to give back. She contacted Mike Spremulli at AAA Band Rentals in Norwalk a few years ago and they have been working together since.

The duo collects instruments and donates them to local schools.

They donated a cart full of instruments Monday to the music department at Bassick High School.

Jon Garcia is in his first year as the band director at Bassick. He says the school didn't even have a music program last year.

"It's nice to know that I have a lot of support from people that are cheering for our success at Bassick," he said.

Garcia says the kids are overwhelmed by this generous gift, since many are unable to afford to rent an instrument.
Palmieri says she hopes this is a gift that will keep on giving.

The Bassick Music Department will be performing its holiday concert with the new instruments on Dec. 17.