By Mark D. Wender | Chief Operating Officer
GlobalGiving Quarterly Report: Stax Music Academy’s SNAP! After School
Stax Music Academy’s SNAP! After School program has experienced an AMAZING Spring Semester! Students have performed with some of the best in the music business, rubbed shoulders with our nation’s leading humanitarians inclusive of a special visit from former First Lady Laura Bush!
Student Performances & Community Involvement Highlights
April – June 2011
♪ St. Jude “KYSS” Info Session & Testing: St. Jude Research Hospital received a grant to broaden awareness among African American youth regarding Sickle Cell Disease. SMA students attended an informational session at St. Jude to learn about the disease and how they could become student ambassadors within their communities and schools to bring awareness. During the session, free testing for Sickle Cell disorder was administered by nurse facilitators. At Stax, instructors conducted a competition in which the Academy students competed for writing/recording a winning jingle about the disorder using the KYSS slogan (Know Your Sickle Cell Status) in hopes to utilize the jingle in a future commercial/advertisement.
(Stax Music Academy—Memphis)
♪ SMA 10 Year Anniversary Concert “Stax To The Max:” ALL Academy students performed in Stax Music Academy's 10 Year anniversary outdoor concert/festival sponsored by Fedex and The Commercial Appeal. The main street areas surrounding the Academy and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music were blocked off for an all day festival featuring Sinbad, David Porter & Friends, Stax Music Academy, including The Soulsville Charter School's orchestra and other artists. Attendees throughout Memphis enjoyed food vendors, games and pony rides for kids, info booths of local organizations. There were approximately 3,000 people in attendance!
(Stax Music Academy—Memphis)
♪ Ontario Canada High School Exchange – South Huron District High School: Academy students engaged in a music exchange session with over 75 students from Ontario Canada and their jazz and swing ensembles. The event was held on The University of Memphis campus!
(Stax Music Academy—Memphis)
♪ Digger Phelps Reception: Academy students performed during a special reception held in The Stax Museum of American Soul Music featuring Sports Announcer and former Notre Dame Coach, Digger Phelps. Mr. Phelps gave an inspirational one on one talk with Academy students and students from The Soulsville Charter School.
(Stax Music Academy—Memphis)
♪ SNAP! Summer Music Experience: Stax Music Academy's annual summer session, 'Summer Music Experience' (SME) ran May 31st through June 25th offering students Music Business; Music History; Production/Engineering; Songwriting; Intro To Conducting and Music Theory. Sessions were taught by college professors, professional musicians and a former New York Philharmonic violinist, with special seminars including featured speaker George Klein. Students produced original music utilizing the Stax studio and control room under the direction of a professional onsite engineer.
(Stax Music Academy—Memphis)
♪ HULL College Student Exchange – England: Jazz students and educational staff from the United Kingdom's Hull College in England returned for a second year of participation in Stax Music Academy's Summer Music Experience program. The group worked as assistants to Academy's instructors and guest instructors with student production projects, songwriting and as volunteers in various capacities during the first week. Their visit culmunated with a video presentation about the college and a jam session with the Academy students performing music with an England influence. Their visit is in lieu of a newly developed partnership in hopes of presenting future scholarships to attend the college.
(Stax Music Academy—Memphis)
♪ The Memphis Veteran Affairs Hospital: As part of The Stax Museum of American Soul Music's annual fundraiser, Staxtacular, the VA Hospital was awarded a prize to have Kirk Whalum and SMA students perform at their organization. The students and Mr. Whalum performed during the hospital's employee appreciation to applaud the men and women dedicated to servicing the nations veterans.
(Stax Music Academy—Memphis)
♪ WUMR “Jazz in June” Radiothon: Stax Music Academy's Jazz/Swing Band students from Summer Music Experience program performed with Kirk Whalum during a fundraiser benefiting the University of Memphis hosted by the universities WUMR Radio Station. The event was held at the downtown New Daisy Theatre on historic Beale Street. This was one of two events where Academy students were performing simultaneously on June 12th.
(Stax Music Academy—Memphis)
♪ Grovin In The Garden (Memphis Botanical Garden): Stax ensemble of vocalists and instrumentalists performed during the River City chapter of LINKS 'Grovin In The Garden' event honoring Kirk Whalum.
(Stax Music Academy—Memphis)
♪ Benjamin Hooks Library’s 10 Year Anniversary Celebration: Students from the Summer Music Experience program performed in celebration of the Central Library's 10th year.
(Stax Music Academy—Memphis)
♪ SNAP! Grand Finale Concert: Culminating concert for summer program held at The Levitt Shell at Overton Park in Memphis. Concert featured "Sounds of Memphis", genres highlighting Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and more!
(Stax Music Academy—Memphis)
♪ Steve Miller Band “Live In The Garden”: Academy summer students invited to observe 'Steve Miller Band's sound check at the Botanical Garden as his band prepares for a concert that evening. Five Academy students performed live with Steve Miller's Band as back up during the concert! Students were treated to an onsite dinner with Steve Miller and received one-on-one Q&A session and chat with Mr. Miller about his life and career!
(Stax Music Academy—Memphis)
In Summary…
These are merely a few rare and unique opportunities to mentor Memphis youth through music education and unique performance opportunities. Please continue to assist our efforts and know that your gift is being put to use, celebrating the soulful past—and securing the bright future—of this legendary ‘Soulsville’ community. Thanks for your generous support. We invite you to share your thoughts. Was this quarterly report helpful?
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