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 was able to offer a new grant at each Law Rocks show: The Music Matters grant. This grant, continuing in 2024, is given to a local nonprofit that supports youth music education in each of our U.S. tour cities. 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.”
This spotlight is on our 2024 Law Rocks Washington DC Music Matters grant recipient, FAME - Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education. FAME’s mission is to positively impact the lives of youth through access to quality music, education, programs and experiences. We wholeheartedly agree with FAME’s belief that “children, teens, and young adults, regardless of social and economic need, should have access to quality music and music education as part of their journey to adulthood,” and are pleased to share a bit about the organization with our community.
Keep reading to learn more in our spotlight interview with A. Toni Lewis, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FAME.
Our 2024 Washington DC Music Matters Grant Recipient: FAME. Photo by Ana Tantaros | Side A Photography | courtesy of FAME.
1) Can you tell us a little about the history of your nonprofit, as well as its mission and focus?
FAME – Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education, Inc. was founded in 2004 by Arethia Toni Lewis, an educator and lover of music of all genres, who believes that children, teens, and young adults should have access to a quality music education regardless of social and economic status. FAME’s mission is to give every young musician the best opportunity to succeed in life by providing music training and academic support. We believe that if given the tools, including the power of music, program participants will become young adults of well-rounded character, and part of the next generation of leaders for our community and our nation.
Music is the instrument that FAME uses to capture youth’s attention and build their self-confidence and interest in improving their grades and preparing for college, career and life. Students are challenged to set high expectations for their academic and life achievements by expanding students’ experiences to demonstrate that they are not defined by their current conditions or surroundings.
FAME is a harmony of music and education. We prepare youth for college and career through a four- pronged approach: Music Instruction Educational Support, College Preparation and Work Readiness.
FAME has Three programs:
FAME Jazz Band Program - it is more than just a band! It is a year-round tuition-free program that offers middle and high school students high caliber music and academic instruction and experiences 44 weeks per year. The program has three components: FAME Jazz Ensemble, FAME Jazz Band & Musicians In Training. The program currently serves 31 youth. The inaugural artistic director is Nat Adderley Jr, the musical director, composer, and arranger for the late R&B icon Luther Vandross.
Summer Music Program, conducted weekly in July and August with intensive music technology/production workshops, instrumental workshops and songwriting workshops in partnership with the University of Maryland College Park School of Music. The program supports up to 200 students from across the country.
Music Is Central Program –supports school-based and after-school music programs and students in the Greater Washington Region with academic tutors, music instructors, workshops and clinics, instruments, music sheets, and other materials at no cost.
FAME’s overall goals are to increase student’s enthusiasm for learning, improve academic achievement, incentivize all youth to stay in school, and provide exposure outside community walls. Key to our success are strong and enduring collaborations and partnerships established over the years with colleges and universities, corporations, governments, music professionals, performing arts venues, other nonprofits, and public, private and homeschools. These relationships help to reinforce our ability to provide quality state of the arts programming and academic support to youth.
FAME is strategically located in three satellite spaces in north, central and south Prince George’s County, and is accessible to Washington DC and surrounding Maryland and Virginia counties. FAME partnered with the University of Maryland School of Music in 2011 and launched at Dr. Henry Wise High School in Upper Marlboro in 2022, followed by Harmony Hall Arts Center in Fort Washington in 2023 and The Academy in District Heights in 2024.
Photo by Jeremy Norwood | Norwood Studio | courtesy of FAME
2) What is the best example of the way you’ve seen your organization’s work make a difference?
There are several examples, however, the one on one academic tutoring and intensive music instruction provided to our musicians results in scores higher than local and State assessment averages i.e. SAT. As a result, 90% of our FAME Jazz Band Program musicians receive full or partial academic and music scholarships. They attend major colleges and universities such as Berklee College of Music, University of Maryland College Park, Howard University, and more. Their strong musical skills allow them to perform at major activities at the Kennedy Center, National African American Museum of History & Culture, Smithsonian, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, NOBCO in Portland OR, Lake Arbor Jazz Festival, and the Dauphin County Jazz & Wine Festival in Harrisburg PA.
3) What are some upcoming initiatives that you are planning for?
We are planning our annual intergenerational holiday concert, ‘Tis the Season Concert on December 14; and in 2025 we will begin our Capital Campaign.
Photo by Rae Smith | courtesy of FAME
4) What is the greatest challenge your organization faces?
Our greatest challenge surrounds sustaining funding for our current programming and providing support to the increasing number of students and parents requesting services due to the severe academic deficits caused by the pandemic and the lack of access to music in schools.
5) What does the power of music mean to you?
Music Transforms the lives of the young and old. It promotes healing - physical, mental, emotional and relationships.
6) How will the Music Matters grant be used?
The Music Matters grant funding will be used for:
$1K a Songwriting Workshop
$500 provide instrument cleaning kits for the FAME Jazz Band
$500 Instrument stands
Learn more about FAME.