Former trombone player Tim Cook gives $100,000 to his high school band

By

The Robersdale High School Band poses with instruments.
The Robersdale High School Band poses with instruments.
Photo: Baldwin County Public Schools

We’ve all heard the “sad trombone” sound. Well, today all brass is happy — or at least some brass, down south in Alabama — because Apple CEO Tim Cook just gave his alma mater’s band program a donation to the tune of $100,000.

Cook played trombone in the Robertsdale High School band in Robertdale, Alabama, near Mobile. He graduated in 1978, on his way to an engineering degree from Auburn University and later an MBA from Duke University.

Former trombone player Tim Cook gives his Alabama high school band a donation to the tune of $100,000

As a trombone player in high school, Cook, who just made the cover of Time magazine, understandably has a special connection to his alma mater’s band program. Cook’s loud-and-proud donation of $100,000 will help his high school’s band purchase new instruments for students.

The school band found itself growing faster than it could afford, outstripping its funding, according to a story in AL.com. A spokesperson told the publication Cook’s donation bought 28 instruments for the band, including tubas, flutes and various horns.

“These instruments will enhance the entire band and provide instruments to students this year and for many years to come,” said Chastity Reddick. “The Robertsdale band continues to grow every year and with that the needs of the group.”

Baldwin County Public Schools thanked Cook on Facebook.
Baldwin County Public Schools thanked Cook on Facebook.
Photo: Facebook

Baldwin County Public schools mentioned the gift online. The school system compared it to “Christmas morning” for the students.

“We are speechless. Due to our growth, we found ourselves in a situation where we didn’t have enough instruments for this coming fall. We would have had more students than instruments, and needed $140,000 to make this happen,” band director LT Hughes wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday.

Cook’s gift was generous, certainly, but the band’s fundraising quest for an additional $40,000 continues.

These images show Tim Cook's 1978 high school yearbook photo and him with his colleagues on the yearbook staff. Cook was the business manager.
These images show Tim Cook’s 1978 high school yearbook photo and him with his colleagues on the yearbook staff. Cook was the business manager.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Robertsdale High School

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.