Our volunteer teachers give lessons to more than 200 deserving kids. But did you know that our outreach teachers reach almost 1,000 more kids every year? These contracted professionals take music to Boys & Girls Clubs, Urban Family Outreach, and other in-school and afterschool programs in underserved areas. That’s a lot of music for kids who need it most.

Lately we are focusing on growing our outreach. How? We seek funding to support it, and not just in Knox County. We are working to get music to kids in outlying areas. We’ve already started to grow our reach, but more is in the works.

A recent grant from the Country Music Association Foundation will help us expand outreach and measure our impact this year. The Clayton Family Foundation has helped as well. Individuals such as Sharon Lord have stepped up to ensure our outreach is robust, too.

Our five brilliant outreach teachers—Ronda Mostella, Kiran Seth, Will Carter, Anthony Hussey, Rebekah Maxim, and Bethany Hankins—are out there teaching at sites near and far. In coming newsletters we’ll be sharing the impact of our outreach.

Music matters! And not just to the kids who can get to our Knoxville building! Stay tuned.

Yours sincerely,

Francis Graffeo

Executive Director