King County Council Vice Chair Claudia Balducci presented Music Works Northwest a check for $45,200 on Dec. 2. Through King County’s Building for Culture program, the check will help complete important facility upgrades to better serve its 700 students annually.

“The benefits of music education go beyond the skill of playing an instrument and the enjoyment of music,” Balducci said in a written statement. “I am so proud to have spearheaded funding that completes facility improvements so Music Works Northwest can continue to improve upon its work of giving children the gift of music.”

Music Works Northwest, located at 1331 118th Ave. SE in Bellevue, is a nonprofit community school dedicated to changing lives through accessible music education and experiences. The school is focused on increasing access to music education, and they do so through tuition assistance and scholarships. Music Works Northwest provides individual music lessons, music classes, music therapy, summer camps and free concerts.

“This Building for Culture grant will help us improve the quality of the educational experience for hundreds of students each week, through additional soundproofing, replacement of failed light fixtures and necessary building,” said Music Works Northwest executive director Karen Nestvold in a release. “Many thanks to Councilmember Claudia Balducci, the entire King County Council and 4Culture for this grant.”

Nestvold added that as a nonprofit, it’s hard to find extra dollars to do extra maintenance, additional construction and other facility upgrades.

“I’m really excited for the soundproofing because that will improve the quality of the experience, for both our students and our faculty,” Nestvold said. “That will be a wonderful improvement for all of our students. It’s [also] nice to honor our faculty members with a better facility for them to teach in.”

For more information go online to www.musicworksnw.org.