Joy of Music School

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The Burger Benefit

UTFacultyJazzWithCalebOctober2013Newsletter

The Joy of Music School got four nights “on stage” at one of Knoxville’s premier restaurants in August – and made the most of it. We were part of the Kobe Burger Mondays at the Orangery series, in which the restaurant generously donates $5 to charity for each American Kobe beef burger it sells. Over the course of the month, scores of volunteers, board members and friends of the School (new and old) enjoyed a fun night out and delightful live music. “We were impressed with the turnout, and the musical guests thrilled everyone,” says Rebecca Bonano, the Orangery’s catering sales manager. So, too, DID the burgers. Many thanks to the Orangery for supporting our School!


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Urban Legends

Urban Outfitters

One of Knoxville’s newest retailers, Urban Outfitters, made a nice contribution to the Joy of Music School recently. The Philadelphia-based company donated 10 percent of the sales from the first three days of its new store overlooking downtown Knoxville’s Market Square. Urban Outfitters District Manager Hillary Day toured the School when deciding to make us the beneficiary, and she came away impressed by our volunteer teachers and students. “It was a really good feeling contributing to a group that’s this important to the community,” she says. Thank you Urban Outfitters!


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The Family that Landscapes Together…

CoatesPhoto-Oct2013Newsletter

Busy dads often struggle finding time to spend with their teenage boys, who generally have plenty of competing activities vying for their attention. One extraordinary father-son
team who make time for each other, and who turn their time into work for the good of the community, is Curt and Chancellor Coates. Curt Coates manages a local Wal-Mart and Chancellor is an accomplished athlete and musician at Maryville High School. They team up as father and son landscapers (and sometimes even get a hand from Chancellor’s younger brother, Churchill, too). Curt’s company encourages volunteerism in the communities Wal-Mart serves by making cash donations that match volunteer hours, up to $250 per quarter. So while Curt donates his time, Wal-Mart provides funding that helps us pay Chancellor for his work. There’s a lot of good happening here: Dad and son find quality time working together. Son earns pocket money. Dad volunteers in the community. The School’s grounds are impeccably landscaped. Wal-Mart supports volunteerism. That pulls at our heartstrings!


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Our Super-Joyous Spring Recital

MayRecitalPhotoOctober2013NewsletterBlog

Family and friends got to fill their hearts, souls and stomachs at the Joy of Music School Spring Recital. Through an evening of solo and duet performances, as well as ensemble pieces by the general music class, choir, ukulele class and jazz band, School students gave the crowd at First Christian Church an emotional, entertaining and inspiring reminder of why music education is so important.

The program included performances by the School’s three graduating seniors–Kristen Thames, Samuel Feier, and Peter Garlington. Like many JoMS graduates before her, Kristen, a pianist and violinist, continues her music education with a full scholarship at the UT School of Music, where she will specialize in string music education. Peter is also attending UT, and Samuel is at Pellissippi State. While it was a time to say a proud goodbye to our accomplished graduates, the recital also was a good chance to see who tomorrow’s “we knew them when”s are going to be.

And there were a lot of them. Approximately 65 students, accompanied by 15 teachers, wowed their first fans with a demonstration of what happens when the hard work and enthusiasm of youth meets the talent and dedication of our wonderful volunteers.

Though there may have been differing opinions on the highlight of the afternoon, everyone agrees the barbecue feast was a hit. Generously provided by Second Harvest Food Bank, School board members and some great friends, along with cooking and clean-up help from church members, the banquet fed 200 happy people. If you missed this year’s celebration, we look forward to seeing you next spring!