Photo Credit: Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series presented by PNC Bank official Facebook Event Page
The Levitt AMP concert series scheduled for the Y Block for the second year in a row was one of the many casualties of the coronavirus pandemic.
The series and others like it all over the country are made possible through a grant from the Levitt Foundation to bring live music to communities. So the foundation is going to bring music to communities in a slightly different way.
A $5000 Levitt AMP Bridge grant is being given to Springfield and other communities forced to cancel their concert series this year. The money will be used to provide free food and music lessons.
Through the efforts of Ward 2 Alderman Shawn Gregory and two locally owned black-businesses, starting at noon on Saturday, October 17 and running until the food runs out, 300 free meals will be given away. Anchors Away will be handing out free chicken and sausage gumbo meals. Drive-up service will be provided at 518 E. Capitol Avenue. Boyd’s New Generation will provide fried chicken dinners from their parking lot at 1831 S Grande Ave E.
Walk-up service is also available, but participants must be wearing a mask to be served.
Some of the grant money will also be used to provide access to free music lessons for those who might not otherwise be able to afford them. Lessons provided through Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestras, the Garvey/Tubman Cultural Arts and Research Center, and First Try Sessions.
The ISYO will give free lessons for children who are already members of the Youth Symphony in grades 3-12 as well as providing instrument rental assistance
The Garvey/Tubman Cultural Arts and Research Center will focus on at-risk, underprivileged youth between the ages of 10 and 17 to receive socially distanced private music lessons. The main focus for classes is children of color who live in a single income household. Find out more by emailing cescott1943@gmail.com.
First Try Sessions is a program that works to connect working guitarists with kids who want to learn how to play. The guitarists working with the organization, started by Jessica Knight-Carnes of the band Looming, also donate gently-used guitars. They will use their grant money to provide free guitar lessons to kids ages 7 to 17 over zoom for six weeks. First Try will also offer basic guitar maps to each participating student. You may get more information by emailing submissions@firsttrysessions.com
The Springfield Area Arts Council is also accepting donations of gently used instruments. Donations may be dropped off at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., the week of October 26 to help with the music lessons.
Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series presented by PNC Bank is scheduled to return in 2021
Source: News Channel 20
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