Following is a description of this summer’s Juilliard Jazz for Joy concert/fundraiser. It was written by Knoxville accountant Jenny Hines and originally posted on Facebook.

In 1997, I received a letter from James A. Dick thanking me for agreeing to serve on the Joy of Music School board and stating that the new organization’s fi rst board meeting would be the following Tuesday at noon. One thing you did not do was say no to James Dick—especially if he was your most important client.

I knew from a couple of long lunches and meandering meetings that James Dick had wanted to be a pianist. He settled instead for buying and owning radio stations, beginning with WNOX and expanding to WIVK in Knoxville. It wasn’t such a bad idea because he turned out to be a pretty savvy businessman.

His idea to form the Joy of Music School seemed like a natural investment for Jim Dick’s passion.

He told me that Knoxville was bound to have another young Mozart or Duke Ellington. Well, on July 9 his dream and his vision were realized when Taber Gable and friends Jonathan Barber, Andrew Renfroe and Lesly Valbrun took the stage at the Emporium in downtown Knoxville. They mesmerized a sold-out crowd at a benefit for the very school that James Dick founded. The vision was fulfilled and the hard work of many volunteer and sponsors had come full circle.

There are many success stories from the Joy of Music School, but perhaps Taber’s is the most satisfying because it started here in Knoxville, traveled to Connecticut, where he attended the University of Hartford on a music scholarship, and is now alive and well at Juilliard. Yes, Juilliard.

Taber brought us all to our feet with some original work and with a beautiful rendition of The Tennessee Waltz and a spiritual song where two of his friends sang alongside his brother, Dwayne Gable. It was truly a special moment.

Tom Jester and I had many of our best friends joining us, including Mary-Linda Schwarzbart, Mary Fran Darwin, Dara Canada, Drew Taylor, Rick Fox and Ralph Cianelli. We also were happy to see former Joy of Music School presidents Michael Combs and Rick Carl along with former executive director Marisa Moazen. There were lots of former and current board members including Eleanor W. Barron, Ann Hitch, and Ken Dobbins. And it made me especially happy to see Francis Graff eo, the organization’s current executive director there, full of JOY as he welcomed the full house. But perhaps the best surprise was seeing James Hundley, grandson of James Dick and a current board member, who had driven in from Nashville with his father to attend the event. And they had brought with them Marilyn Dick, wife of James and one of the School’s mainstay supporters.

There can be nothing more gratifying than giving a gift from the heart and then seeing it pay back beyond your expectations. The investment of James Dick and many others over the years got a huge return on investment as Taber Gable gave back through his performance. July 9 was one of those magical nights—a night for remembering those who mentored us, a night for being with very special friends, a night to meet new friends and anticipate the fun of future gatherings with them, and a time to celebrate the JOY of MUSIC!