Asheville Music School raising money for new scholarship fund

Here’s the press release from the Asheville Music School:

Asheville Music School Raising Dollars for its Newly Established

Paul Thorpe Music Education Fund, In Honor of the Late Paul Thorpe

A performance fund-raiser on April 5 marks the first official event

Asheville, NC – On April 5, the Asheville Music School (AMS) hosts its inaugural fund-raiser for the Paul Thorpe Music Education Fund (PTMEF). Since Paul’s passing in late 2011, a core group of teachers have taken over the school, developed it into a non-profit organization, and started the PTMEF scholarship fund in honor of the late AMS director.

The Paul Thorpe Music Education Fund provides underserved students with scholarships for music lessons and instruments, and covers the costs of music outreach programs that benefit underserved and elderly members of the community. In the near future, the PTMEF also plans to provide private and group music lessons and instruments to at-risk youth and foster children in collaboration with the Department of Social Services. With public school arts and music funding being slashed, the AMS and PTMEF feel that this cause is extremely important in the growth of our youth culture and education.

A fund-raiser on April 5 marks AMS’s first official benefit for the PTMEF. The event will feature performances by our AMS Sound Education outreach ensembles, including the AMS Student Jazz Ensemble, two pop/rock ensembles, and a classical chamber trio, all lead by AMS teachers. These ensembles, made up of students ages 10-16, have performed in area hospitals and assisted-living facilities, bridging generations by establishing on-going relationships between youth and elders. Through funding from the Paul Thorpe Music Education Fund, these ensembles are aiming to further develop their outreach performances in our community.

Throughout the month of March our students are participating in our first ever Practice-a-Thon to raise money for the PTMEF. On April 5 we will be crowing our Practice King and Queen!

FRIDAY, APRIL 5 at Asheville Music School

6:30 pm

$15 suggested donation

Wine and small bites available

Tickets available at the door or at www.ashevillemusicschool.com

AMS is located at

126 College St.
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252-6244

SPONSORED BY:

Asheville Symphony, 828 Design, Charlotte Street Computers, French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Dancing Bear Toys, The Music Center, Rosebud Video, Appalachian Vintners, and Marble Slab Creamery

Asheville Music School, now a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is a community school for anyone who wishes to study music. We’ve been making music since 1996, and now have over 300 students with 35 instructors teaching music lessons and classes every week to all ages and skill levels.