Nonprofit seeks to help those who lost instruments in January’s fires
When January’s catastrophic wildfires swept through Southern California, Brandon Jay and his wife, both professional composers and musicians, lost not only their home but also more than 200 instruments housed in their Altadena recording studio. Guitars, keyboards, harmoniums, recording gear — every piece held both practical and emotional value. “It wasn’t just the monetary loss,” Jay recalled. “It was the sentimental value, the stories behind those instruments. That’s what hurt the most.”