• Students
• Local and Community Programs
• Community Music School Programs
• College and University Programs

Delaware:

Brittany enjoyed four years of cello lessons with Beily Street through MusicLink at the Christina Cultural Arts Center in Wilmington. She received a cello from the Weaver House of Violins through our MusicLink Business Partner program as well as enjoying several summers at a chamber music summer program through the MusicLink camp scholarship program. She is now a music major in college.

Georgia:

Heidi Hanz of Marietta reached out through music to many young girls at several Girls Clubs in her community through MusicLink keyboard lessons. These girls enjoyed recitals and special awards of achievement through Heidi's instruction over the years.

Virginia:

Justin showed his musical talent as early as age two by playing tunes by ear on the piano. He began violin lessons at four, and by age six he was playing for nursing homes and his family's church ministry. By the time he started MusicLink piano lessons, at age nine, the family knew he would soon be losing his sight, due to a condition called exudative retinopathy. Through years of lessons with Virginia Koun of Virginia Beach, and some assistance with synthesizers and specialized recording equipment provided by MusicLink, Justin's musical talent blossomed. He graduated from the Governor's School of Performing Arts with a 4.0+ average and is now attending William Patterson College majoring in jazz studies and computer technology, with a goal of developing software for visually impaired musicians. He currently plays professionally as soloist and in jazz trios at restaurants, weddings, and concerts.

Justin's mom: "We are truly thankful to God for the gift of incredible teachers, loving family, and support from MusicLink. All of this, along with his positive attitude and work ethic, has allowed him to bloom into the beautiful person he is!"

Texas/Mexico:

Every month, Diane Dawson Delk of Conroe TX crosses the Mexican border with music in hand to teach a group of young children in a village near Guanajuato. They run to meet her as she drives up, assisted by Miguel, a promising MusicLink teenage student. These young musicians are eager to learn, receiving assistance with music and grass roots grants from MusicLink. Miguel recently enjoyed his first trip to the US and Washington DC, performing at the MusicLink National Summit at the Center for the Arts in Fairfax, VA. Diane: "It almost brings tears to my eyes to see what these children do with so little and how they treasure each of the opportunities they have."

Virginia:

Arash of Arlington enjoyed many years of lessons through MusicLink on violin, viola, chamber music and piano. He received a violin and viola from MusicLink business partners and spent several summers at a chamber music camp through our camp scholarship program. His sister, Anousheh joined the program in 1996, taking lessons in both piano and voice. One of her compositions was performed by the McLean Symphony Orchestra. The family strongly supported their children's musical activities over many years in MusicLink. Both students are now in college, continuing their musical interests as young adults.

Texas/Louisiana:

Faith Marie essentially taught herself to play the piano before beginning lessons at the age of nine through Musiclink with Dr. Ross Smith of Centenary College, Shreveport, LA, over an hour from her home in TX. Dr. Smith: "It was clear to me that this child possessed an enormous talent for music and I was extremely excited about the opportunity to work with her." Faith has won numerous competitions and enjoys performing at a community nursing home on a regular basis receiving awards of recognition for this service. Faith Marie: "I want to thank MusicLink for helping me discover a talent that was hidden. My life has been changed forever! Dr. Smith has been a big part in helping me to recognize what I can accomplish in my life."

Louisiana:

Hilda Beth and John Dupaquier have been volunteering to teach an after school keyboard program at an inner-city school in Baton Rouge for over six years through MusicLink. They have seen students in their classes go on to continue musical studies in their secondary schools, thanks to this early training. Their dedication to bring music lessons to at-rish students who would normally not be able to receive this instruction lies at the heart of the MusicLink philosophy.

Oregon:

As a sixth grader with Asperger's Syndrome, Mike believed he would never learn to read music. Under years of careful instruction and mentoring from Carole Lindell-Ross of Lake Oswego teamed with his school choir directors, Mike is now in high school singing tenor in the a capella choir and performing piano solos in student recitals and retirement homes. Carole recognized his innate musicality and nurtured this through individual lessons. Carole: "I believed in Mike's ability to use his voice to unlock the music inside him. His supportive mother, school teachers and I enjoy his good-humored personality and his can-do attitude. His ability to laugh at his mistakes and then try again are lessons for all of us."

Oregon

Tony is a highly talented MusicLink student who studied piano with Kelli Brown Stephens of Portland for nine years, accumulating many awards that allowed him to perform concerti with different orchestras in Oregon. As a recipient of MusicLink camp scholarships, he enjoyed several summers at the Aspen Music Festival where he enjoyed a master class with Leon Fleisher and performed a concerto with the Academy Orchestra. He now attends the University of Houston, majoring in music.

Maryland/Virginia

David and his family moved to the United States in 1995, when he was ten years old. While living in Lynchburg, Virginia, he began piano lessons through MusicLink with Judith Schultz. David's musical interests turned to composition at age fourteen, composing numerous piano and chamber works featured in local performances. Currently a junior living in Silver Spring, Maryland, David studies composition with Dr. Glenn Caldwell and piano with Judith Ferencz, both on the faculty of Western Maryland College. He premiered his composition, Nocturne, at the MTNA national convention in Washington DC last March. David is shown with Awadagin Pratt at a recent master class.

David's family moved several times through his school years, with MusicLink successfully linking him with Judith Ferencz, piano and Glenn Caldwell, composition from Western Maryland College during his high school years. David is shown at a master class with Awadagin Pratt at George Mason University. David's passion to compose has led him to the Cleveland Institute of Music as a composition major.

Florida:

In 1999, the Volusha County Music Teachers Association made a New Years resolution to get involved with the MusicLink Program. Their members took on individual students in their studios and also linked with Teen Challenge, building a healthy relationship with young ladies through music lessons for a number of years.

Indiana:

The Fine Arts Society Music Academy (FASMA) is a MusicLink alliance partner that provides after-school music education and hands-on keyboard instruction to over 60 disadvantaged youth in five schools in Indianapolis. Their partnership with MusicLink has allowed FASMA to obtain free and discounted music books and sheet music and they recently received a Grass-Roots grant.

Minnesota:

The Minnesota MusicLink program works with a number of different local music teacher organizations as well as community music schools and non-profit organizations that share our mission to reach students in need through music. Schmitts Music Co. is an active business partner supporting the program in Minnesota and across the Midwest.

New York:

The Flying Fiddlers String Chorale is a MusicLink Alliance organization in Kingston that offers individual lessons to MusicLink students as well as performance opportunities. Several students in the chorale have received string instruments through the MusicLink business partner program.

Virginia:

The Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association pioneered the MusicLink program in 1992. These dedicated volunteer teachers have reached hundreds of students in their community over the past decade, through active support from school music supervisors, music dealers and business partners, and local arts commissions. They enjoy a MusicLink recital annually, watching students grow through the program and develop into fine musicians. The state VMTA organization assists in paying for student music and camp scholarships.

Delaware:

The Christina Cultural Arts Center, serving the Wilmington metropolitan area, has included a number of MusicLink students in their roster of students in piano, cello, and violin.

Massachusetts:

The Indian Hill Music School in Littleton includes MusicLink students in their scholarship roster of students. A business partnership with Steinert and Sons in Boston assists in bringing pianos into these student homes for practice.

New York:

The Dutchess Community College Music School in Poughkeepsie offers MusicLink scholarships to a number of students each year who are nominated from by music teachers in area schools near the college. The school maintains an ongoing relationship with a number of music dealers who support the program through free rental of instruments and discounts on music.

Illinois:

Northwestern University's Music Academy offers MusicLink lessons with university graduate students who teach as part of their assistantship. The academy offers private instruction as well as group lessons for beginning students.

Louisiana:

Piano pedagogy students at Louisiana State University have joined teachers from the Baton Rouge Music Teachers Association in a MusicLink program at an area elementary school. College students work in teams with faculty and professional music teachers in group keyboard classes meeting several times a week.

North Dakota:

The Valley City State University Community School of the Arts uses the MusicLink nomination process with area schools for their scholarship program. The school has established a long-term partnership with MusicLink, training dozens of students in many different instruments throughout their school years.

Virginia:

George Mason University's Melton-MusicLink Fellowship program was made possible through a generous grant of $150,000 by Robert Melton. Over 30 GMU Melton fellows have provided music instruction to more than 100 students from several school systems in the northernVirginia area. The program's success is proven when Melton fellows graduate the university and continue teaching their MusicLink students on scholarship.