A key component of Law Rocks’ mission is to promote music education for underserved youth. In 2023, due to our increased sponsorship and fundraising, Law Rocks has been able to offer a new grant at each Law Rocks show: The Music Matters grant. This grant is given to a local nonprofit that supports youth music education. Omi Crawford, director of Law Rocks, says of the grant initiative:
“Since our 2009 founding, Law Rocks has supported hundreds of incredible nonprofits, with an emphasis on youth music education organizations. The Music Matters grant is a natural evolution of our mission and a chance to formalize our support of amazing music education nonprofits across the country.”
Today’s spotlight is on our Washington, DC grant winner, The MusicianShip. Law Rocks is thrilled to be able to increase our support for music education through the Music Matters grant, and DC nonprofit The MusicianShip exemplifies our mission.
By offering the Music Matters grant in each city of our tour, we are able to support wonderful organizations and highlight the hard work of these local nonprofits to the greater community. Keep on reading for our spotlight interview with Eric Liley, Executive Director and CEO of The MusicianShip.
Our Washington DC Music Matters Grant Recipient: The MusicianShip
1) Can you tell us a little about the history of your nonprofit, as well as its mission and focus?
Founded in 2009, we are at our core a youth development organization that offers a wide range of free music education programs, geared towards enriching the lives of students, their communities, and emerging musicians in the Washington metropolitan region.
Our Vision: We envision a future where all young people have access to the joy and opportunities made possible by the transformational power of music.
Our Mission: To empower youth and emerging musicians from historically marginalized communities throughout the Washington metropolitan region and beyond by providing free music education and enrichment programs that build skills and amplify talents, resulting in positive life-changing outcomes.
At the end of our summer programs, students & staff lead a production called Dianne's Recital, where we pay homage to the dreamer and the visionary behind The MusicianShip, Dianne Grainger.
2) You have a unique legacy. Tell us more.
Dianne Grainger was a passionate music student and skilled musician at a young age. She was awarded a music scholarship to attend Howard University where she led the esteemed Howard University Showtime Marching Band and where she was to meet TMS co-founder. Her love for music expanded when she became a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity. Dianne graduated Cum Laude in 2007 with a B.A. in Music Education and a minor in Percussion, in addition to receiving the most outstanding percussionist award in her class, the Avedis Zildjian Percussion Scholarship. She became a public school music educator and a professional musician, playing drums behind artists like Orianthi and Jaared & doing tech work with Earth, Wind and Fire.
As an educator, she could feel the void of music education in public primary and secondary schools. She witnessed youth from historically marginalized communities that did not have the same opportunity to continue their education and receive music scholarships like she did. Inspired, Dianne and her father, Gregory talked about a vision to bring music to schools, reinforced by her connection to Howard ensemble mate, Jeffery Tribble, Jr., who had also begun developing a similar concept. Dianne, Jeffery and Gregory had a meeting about their shared vision and the beginnings of The MusicianShip were born.
Unfortunately for all, Dianne died in a tragic accident on August 5, 2009 at the age of 24. She never had the chance to see her dream become a reality but with the support of founding Executive Director & CEO Jeffery Tribble, a passionate group of founding board members, along with a diverse slate of new board members that have joined the organization over the last year, The MusicianShip not only came to life but continues to evolve.
Today under the leadership of new Executive Director & CEO and seasoned Music industry veteran, Eric Liley, The MusicianShip continues to sail forward. Our primary goal is to amplify the scope of music education opportunities for youth in historically marginalized communities throughout the Nation’s Capital and surrounding region while also providing a collaborative development platform for emerging musicians representing all genres. This will be the foundation for building a diverse and inclusive environment where all young people can benefit from the transformational powers of music .
Image courtesy of The MusicianShip
3) What is the best example of the way you’ve seen your organization’s work make a difference?
Our unique value proposition is rooted in our ability to be a grassroots community facing organization that provides ‘free’ after school & summer programs (OST) ranging from instrumental and vocal disciplines to industry business development and music therapy for youth in DC’s Public School System. We also provide paid summer jobs as part of Marion Barry’s Summer Youth Employment Program, which include an end of year community performance and scholarships for students.
As a leading advocate for the music arena as a whole, we produce two of the DC Metropolitan Region’s most prestigious live music performance events, the annual Wammie Music Awards and the DC Funk Parade/ Festival.
By providing free music education, working with teaching artists, and showcasing the emerging & established talent in the region, we aim to elevate the music industry in the region and make a difference in the lives of young people.
4) What is the greatest challenge your organization faces?
As The MusicianShip navigates through a post pandemic environment, it does so with the foresight and understanding of a new normal that will continue to evolve well into the future. Impacting this transition will be the ability to diversify our revenue streams to offset decreases in the grant funding environment along with creating ways to increase stakeholder engagement while amplifying music education program opportunities to support the growing needs of youth and emerging musicians rooted in the communities we serve.
5) What does the power of music mean to you?
Simply put, leveraging the unifying impact of music, live performance, content creation and /or business acumen to develop skills, awareness and aptitude to become a productive citizen in the local community, national marketplace, or the world abroad should you choose.
6) How will the Music Matters grant be used?
The funds will be used to support our year round music industry development curriculums that is spearheaded by our Education and Community Programs Department.
Learn more about The MusicianShip and its impact on the community in this 2022 annual report.