This April, Shaun took the stage after a year of hard work. Through the stage lights, the crowd cheered on Shaun and his siblings, Jemaine and Myriah, as they got ready to play Alicia Keys’ “No One” that they spent months rehearsing. As the spotlight shone on him, with 200 supporters of family, friends, and community members cheering them on, he counted the band in. The Harrison Family Band brought the house down, and Shaun reached his goal of playing drums on a professional stage. He also reached his academic goals by joining the Rock to the Future Youth Leadership Council, and he won an award at school for improving his grades after working with his mentor at MusiCore every day after school.
The Harrison siblings have been rocking at RTTF ever since Shaun’s parents signed him up for summer camp. Shaun was practically born a drummer- he’s been banging on pots and pans since he was three years old. The trip to MusiCore Kensington from the Harrison’s home in Mt. Airy isn’t easy- it’s about an hour each way. But when the Harrison parents saw how much Shaun loved making friends and playing the drums at summer camp, they signed him, and his sibling Jemaine and Myriah, up for MusiCore After School. Now, the three siblings come to MusiCore after school every day to grow as musicians.
Your support helped Shaun to achieve his dream and see how much his hard work can accomplish. At Rock to the Future, our students learn that the confidence needed to be a musician, bandmate, and performer is transferable to all stages of life. Will you give the gift of music to students like Shaun this year?
Rock to the Future believes that every student in Philadelphia deserves the opportunity to grow with music.
Unfortunately, there is a music education gap in Philadelphia. It can be hard or impossible for low-income youth to find affordable, high quality, and engaging music programs. Rock to the Future believes that music education gives underserved kids and teens important tools to grow- not only as musicians, but as students and individuals. We’re proud to provide our free music programs for over 300 at-risk youth annually. Thanks to supporters like you, Rock to the Future reaches students that attend dozens of Philadelphia schools. In 2018, we doubled the reach of our after-school program, where students receive homework help, tutoring, and college prep in addition to music lessons and band practice. No matter what instrument or music style they choose, we offer free after-school, in-school, and summer programs so that every child in Philadelphia has the chance to find their own voice.
Rock to the Future is committed to the growth of students like Shaun. Funding for the arts fluctuates, but Rock to the Future provides consistent music education because all kids and teens need the skills and life lessons learned on stage. Will you support Rock to the Future to help us provide a safe, encouraging space for youth to grow at their own pace and in their own way? Your gift of any size will be matched up to $25,000 if you donate to us by 12/31/18 – that means that your gift is doubled! Your tax-deductible gift means so much to Shaun and students like him, who are composing their futures with us.