After two decades of donations from Wanaka's Stars in your Eyes show, music programmes at schools and preschools in the Upper Clutha have now benefited by more than $200,000.
Education providers in the district on Thursday received their annual round of cheques presented by the Wanaka Musicians Society Inc, which runs the hugely popular Stars in Your Eyes show.
The charitable show was launched in the early 1990s by Cardrona farmer Jamie Robertson and his Highway 89 band-mate Steve Brett - both still heavily involved - and celebrated its 21st anniversary with its usual four-night run last month.
The show committee's secretary and assistant director Toni Collins said Thursday's donations meant the society had now given more than $200,000 towards music education in the district, the sole recipient of show profits.
It was especially rewarding to see so many young people who had developed their talents through their school music programmes go on to become performers in the show, Mrs Collins said.
Angela Mote-Andrews, head of the music department at Mount Aspiring College, said the Stars in Your Eyes funding had made a huge impact during the five years she had taught at the school.
''The support they've given us has just been invaluable in terms of being able to get in visiting tutors with expertise in different areas, bands, also purchasing major pieces of [musical] equipment that just made all the difference for our students.
''I don't know how I could run my department as well as I can without their support.''
Hawea Flat School principal Sue Heath said the contribution from the show had been ''absolutely fantastic'' and had enabled the school to build up an extensive collection of instruments over the years, including about 40 ukuleles.
The financial support had ''lifted the quality'' of the music programme at Holy Family School, acting principal Paul Cartlidge said.
