Dedicated music scholars awarded with City Winery educator appreciation appearance

Stockbridge, GA — An enchanting community has come together to support music students of Pates Creek Elementary, Dutchtown Middle School, and Dutchtown High School through Henry For Music (HenryforMusic.org). Recording Academy member and International Teaching Artist Brooke Alford, The Artist of the Violin has extended a Student Music Scholar Invitation to join her tour schedule stop at City Winery Atlanta to honor educational leaders. During the "Georgia Teachers and Educators Appreciation Night," Brooke Alford and the award-winning DJ JSMOOVE will highlight the dedicated students in a jam with high-caliber musicians at City Winery Atlanta on Monday, May 6, 2024, @ 7:30 pm. Going into its ninth year, Henry For Music (HFM), is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization empowering students who would most benefit from tuition-free access to musical instruments and music education by removing cost barriers. The Fairview Recreation Center has consistently served as the primary home for HFM's K-12 Youth Orchestra United (YOU), concert rehearsals and gatherings recruiting teaching artists, volunteers, and sponsors to empower students who would most benefit from cost-relieved access to "Joy Through Music.” In a display of her dedication to violin and strings pedagogy, the jazz-charting Brooke Alford has been a lead Teaching Artist for HFM for four Orchestras, including YOU, Red Oak Elementary, Cotton Indian Elementary, and Fairview Elementary School. She has regularly contributed instrument donations to HFM and connected donors. Local students may remember her from their "Joy Through Music Education Concert" field trip to the Fairview Performing Arts Center, where Brooke Alford played her violin in the audience alongside Hartsfield-Atlanta Airport pianist Jez Graham and Trombonist Kevin Arney. HFM regularly partners with the Henry County Fine Arts Department and the City of Stockbridge to present its music education concerts. With high demand for its strings programs to continue, HFM president Kevina L. Franklin said students are "excited to showcase the love the their artistry. It shows that students deeply value their Teaching Artists and peer-to-peer empowerment. Pates Creek Elementary School vocalist and choreographer Evelyn D. Wiggins will see her work in the moves displayed by the HFM students. Kevin Arney (McDonough, Georgia) is a Teaching Artist who has performed in several community events and once donated a trombone to HFM. His donated trombone will be featured during the concert by Henry For Music's Youth Mentor Charlie "TeaTime" Wiggins (Dutchtown High School) to whom HFM gifted as a loaner trombone while hers is serviced in the shop. Initially unaware of its history, TeaTime was drawn to and selected Kevin Arney's donated treasure. Upon testing it out, she exclaimed, "It sounds amazing–and it's so pretty–I can't wait to play it!" A testament to accessible music education benefits, HFM's Youth Advisory Council member and YOU violinist and mentor Destiny Francis (Dutchtown Middle School) will return to City Winery Atlanta for a second time on stage during one of Brooke Alford's original compositions. The May 6th concert appreciation experience is a tour stop along Brooke Alford's "New Day Tour," which includes surprise professional guest artists with high accolades. Get your tickets and see you there: https://citywinery.com/atlanta/ticket-selection? eventId=georgia-teachers-educators-appreciation-ft-brook-0pputr. To donate or get involved with Henry for Music, visit HenryforMusic.org/donate.