Most days after school, you can find Ticonderoga High School senior Michael Facteau and his classmates with instruments in their hands.

On a recent Monday afternoon, they were practicing as a saxophone quartet.

“I feel like it’s made me a more rounded person, probably,” Facteau said. “I just kind of see everything, and see how everyone gets to work together.”

They’ve come a long way over the last few years. Playing with the right and working instruments has been a challenge. Band director Michael Iturrino has seen it firsthand.

“It's seen better days,” said Iturrino, holding an old instrument.

In a community with a high poverty rate, he said it’s been hard for students and their families to buy or rent instruments. Many rely on the school, which has some instruments, but many are well past their prime.

“I want to say probably about 98 percent of those that participate in our band program rent school instruments, and they rent them free of charge,” Iturrino said.

But that changed when local resident and Skidmore College professor Evan Mack heard about the situation. Situated just a few blocks from the high school, Mack has dozens of instruments ready to be utilized by music students.

“This makes it where the kids will always have access to good working instruments,” Mack said.

In 2020, Mack started We Are Instrumental. It collects unused instruments, makes necessary repairs if needed, and then places them into the hands of North Country students.

The first drive in Saratoga Springs amassed 70 instruments. Since then, Mack estimates about 250 instruments have been donated.

“Once this gets sent, it’ll be put to good use. We’ll check back in with the school, see what else they need, if there are any repairs that are needed. We’ll kick into action and make sure that happens,” Mack said.

Today, the instruments are being played in schools across Essex, Clinton and Franklin counties.

We Are Instrumental also trains band directors to repair and maintain instruments to help keep them in use. The goal to continue inspiring the next generation of musicians.

“It has made band class a lot easier,” Facteau said. “Just ... everyone has an instrument, and it gives you an opportunity to play a second instrument.”

“It’s phenomenal. These music programs, despite working with instruments that are kind of being pieced together ... and so it’s just making it a little easier for them,” Mack said.