For the second straight year, First Night Alexandria has donated a total of $3,000 to the music programs at T.C. Williams High School and George Washington and Hammond Middle Schools.

“First Night Alexandria believes in promoting the artistic talents in the city's public school system,” said FNA board president Kerry Donley as he presented the awards. “It is our hope through these contributions that some of these students will continue to develop their musical skills and come back in a few years and perform at First Night on Dec. 31.”

A community celebration of the New Year through the performing arts, First Night Alexandria began in 1994 and turns coffee shops, retail stores, hotels, museums and public buildings into performance venues to showcase a variety of talent on New Year's Eve.

Founded in 1975 by a group of artists in Boston, First Night celebrations take place around the world as an alternative to traditional New Year's Eve revelry. For more information, visit www.FirstNightAlexandria.org.