Boston deaf school gets Swift tickets after prank

From: Boston.com - Oct 2, 2012

By LINDSEY ANDERSON
Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — Taylor Swift is giving $10,000 and concert tickets to a Boston school for the deaf after a prank during an online contest promising an on-campus performance by the Grammy-winning singer.

Horace Mann School for the Deaf was disqualified from the contest because many of the votes were from pranksters who thought it would be funny for a school for the deaf to win a concert.

Swift, known for hits including ‘‘You Belong With Me’’ and ‘‘Love Story,’’ said every student at the K-12 school will receive a ticket to her next local concert. She and the contest sponsors also donated $50,000 to the school, and VH1’s Save the Music program donated $10,000 in musical instruments.

‘‘Any kind of specific instrument that can be purchased to bring music alive for these students will go a long way,’’ Boston Public School spokesman Matt Wilder said.

Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif., won the on-campus concert and a $10,000 grant to its music department.

Four other schools also received grants: Seton High School in Cincinnati; Terra Environmental Research Institute in Miami; Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, Calif.; and California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif.

Swift is releasing her fourth studio album, ‘‘Red,’’ on Oct. 22.

Her last album, ‘‘Speak Now,’’ sold more than 1 million copies in its first week out. She has sold more than 22 million albums and 50 million singles throughout her career.

@2012 Boston.com