Outreach
Since 2008, Music @ St. Alban's has been devoted to taking music into non-traditional venues within our local community, including but not limited to Davidson's historic Westside. In addition to our regular concert series, we provide musical opportunities, at no cost to low income children, families and seniors. For more information, please contact us at [email protected]

Benefit Concert for Western North Carolina

M@SA Outreach

On Saturday afternoon, October 26, Music at St. Albans hosted a free concert to benefit Western North Carolina. Entitled Music Helping Communities, the concert featured the music of Bach, Telemann and Rosenmuller performed by the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra Chamber Players. The audience was encouraged to donate either to the Episcopal Relief and Development Hurricane Relief Fund or to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. The response showed the generous spirit of our patrons- the concert raised $1,785.65, all of which went to these two charities.

The Episcopal Relief and Development is a 501(c) organization that works with its partners to alleviate hunger, create economic opportunities, respond to disasters, promote health and strengthen communities. It created a special fund to assist in disaster recovery efforts iin Western North Carolina. The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina is likewise a 501(c) 3 organization whose Emergency and Disaster Response Fund accepts and disburses funds supporting a regional response and relief efforts in 18 counties of Western North Carolina including the Qualla Boundary.

 

 

North Carolina Baroque Orchestra Chamber Players

La Escuelita Preschool

M@SA Outreach

May 3, 2024 was an exciting morning at La Escuelita Preschool, when M@SA hosted classically trained musicians Janelle Davis and Sung Lee. The classroom was filled with over 30 eager bilingual children, staff and volunteers to listen to creative tunes and stories accompanied by recorders, cello, guitar, various flutes and oboes and a 7-foot contra bass recorder. The children sang along as they learned the concept of the musical scale with the help of Mr. Owl. The musicians deftly included a menage of stuffed animals to describe deep versus high tones. The morning ended by mimicking the stomping sounds of a dinosaur with song, dance and Mr. Sung’s frame drum.

 

 

Janelle Davis and Sung Lee

Outreach Events

M@SA Outreach

April 26 was a day of Outreach Events for M@SA. Woodwind teacher and performing artist Dr. Alicia Chapman demonstrated her instrument and her artistry to young students at the Waymer Center in Huntersville. Dr. Chapman serves on the faculty of the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University. For 45 minutes she entranced students who raptly watched as she played such tunes as “Danny Boy” and “Amazing Grace” on instruments they had neither seen nor heard before. They were fascinated by what they heard, saw and were told about these classical symphony instruments, whose roots go back to the Baroque Period.

Jared Evans, guitarist, songwriter and singer visited the Ada Jenkins After School program. A musician with diverse talents, he played a collection of rock, folk and country music. Jared spoke of how there are lots of different types of art, including visual, art, writing, music and dance. And all of these are ways to express their feelings. Jared closed with a version of “Crazy” as the children danced and called out “crazy”.

Earlier in the day, Dr Chapman entertained and talked with a dozen residents and staff at Hinds Feet Farm, an equestrian home for adults living with brain injuries. Dr. Chapman displayed various oboes, demonstrating their unique sounds, playing familiar songs for the residents, who sang along as able. Dr. Chapman’s unique ability to connect with the residents was evident in their emotional responses to the music, including a sing along version of “Amazing Grace”.

 

 

Alicia Chapman

Hinds' Feet Farm

M@SA Outreach

On Sunday December 3, 2023, Music at St. Alban's, visited Hinds Feet Farm in Huntersville, NC. Hinds Feet Farm serves persons with brain injuries in a rural equestrian environment. Guitarist Jared Evans performed an eclectic mix of classic rock covers and current pop music, delighting Hinds Feet Farm residents, staff & friends. This program was provided with support from the Arts and Science Council.

 

 

Jared Evans

Davidson Library

M@SA Outreach

On Friday December 1, Music @ St. Alban's, in conjunction with the Davidson branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and the Town of Davidson, presented an exclusive virtual event. Distinguished artists Katya Kramer-Lapin and Matvey Lapin engaged the audience in an intimate, up-close-and personal discussion of the musical journeys from Russia to their home in Cary, NC. The violin-piano chamber musicians performed selections from Tchaikovsky, Debussy and Mozart.

 

 

Katya Kramer-Lapin and Matvey Lapin

La Escuelita Preschool

M@SA Outreach

There were lots of smiling 3- and 4-year-olds on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, when Joey Rincon visited La Escuelita bilingual preschool in Davidson, NC. Sponsored by Music at St. Alban's (M@SA) and the Arts & Science Council, Mr. Joey had the children and teachers clap in time and play various rhythm instruments while he performed on his classical guitar. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the ukulele was a big hit. The children also enjoyed up close inspection and strumming of the guitar. It was a delightful experience for all.

 

 

Joey Rincon

Hinds' Feet Farm

M@SA Outreach

On Sunday, June 4th, Mike Alicke, guitarist, singer and songwriter, was featured in an inspiring concert for residents, staff and guests at Hinds’ Feet Farm in Huntersville. Hinds’ Feet Farm serves adults with brain injuries through activities that stimulate cognitive, creative, and social development. Sponsored by M@SA as one of its outreach missions, Mike presented two forty-minute sets of familiar songs by artists such as James Taylor, Neil Diamond, and Elvis Presley, along with a few of his own. The audience responded enthusiastically to this program made possible through ASC funding.

 

 

Hinds' Feet Farm

LEARN Works

Ada Jenkins Center

M@SA hosted two enrichment events at Ada Jenkins LEARN Works after school programs. Lovell Bradford, of Davidson College and JazzArts Charlotte, performed jazz pieces accompanied by several young jazz musicians. Mr. Bardford introduced the young Ada Jenkins students to the various instruments and to the history of jazz and Harlem. The room was filled with joyful energy, smiling faces, and music.

 

 

Lovell Bradford at work

La Escuelita Preschool

On Monday, December 5, 2022, Music at St. Alban's (M@SA) in conjunction with the Arts & Science Council visited La Escuelita bilingual preschool in Davidson, NC. Musician Joey Rincon performed on his acoustic & electric guitar. Joey quickly engaged the young preschoolers and staff with his interactive style. The children had an opportunity to play the guitar, drums, castanets & sing. Some of the songs required hand movements which the children performed very well. Joey's selections included both English and Spanish languages. Very inclusive, educational and fun experience for all.

 

 

Joey Rincon

LEARN Works

Ada Jenkins Center

On Thursday, May 6, 2022 Music @ St. Alban's, in conjunction with the Town of Davidson, provided a virtual music enrichment event. LEARN Works enrichment director, M@SA, Learn Music of Cornelius and a Davidson College graduate fellow and undergraduate art students, provided the "family engagement" event at the outdoor stage at Summit Coffee, Main St, Davidson. In March and April, Davidson College fellow, Maurice Norman worked with the Ada Jenkins LEARNWorks students to create slam style poetry. On May 6, the students performed their poems, with musical accompaniment by guitarist Joey Rincon of Learn Music. Joey improvised musical selections to highlight the emotions and energies of the students’ poetry. After the performance, Davidson College art students guided the LEARNWorks students in creating visual depictions with chalk on canvas. Family members of the LEARNWorks students were invited guests to the event.

 

 

Joey Rincon

Gethsemane Baptist Church

Noel Freidline Trio

On Friday, February 18, 2022, Music @ St. Alban's, in conjunction with the Arts and Science Council, visited Gethsemane Baptist church in Davidson. The Noel Freidline Trio, hosted by M@SA, performed “A Tribute to the Great Pianists - [Dave] Brubeck, [George] Shearing, and [Ahmad] Jamal.” The joyful energy of the trio was only outmatched by the audience’s abundant enthusiasm. The free concert was offered to the community at no-charge and was well attended.

 

 

Noel Freidline

La Escuelita Preschool

NC Baroque Orchestra

On Friday, December 17, 2021, Music @ St. Alban's, in conjunction with the Arts and Science Council visited La Escuelita Preschool. Hosted by M@SA, five members of the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra provided a musical story to bilingual students and staff. The holiday themed story was created around songs the children had been learning. The students accompanied the musical story with their own voices and hand percussion movements. The NCBO members included Frances Blaker [melodica and percussion], Letitia Berlin and Barbara Weiss [melodica], Billy Simms [theorbo] and Barbara Krumdieck [cello].

 

 

Billy Simms - Therorbo

LEARN Works

Ada Jenkins Center

On Thursday, May 6, 2021, Music @ St. Alban's, in conjunction with the Town of Davidson, provided a virtual Family Engagement music enrichment event at the Ada Jenkins Center LEARN Works After School Academic Enrichment Program.

Paige Whitley-Baugess described the history of European court dances and the origins of dance in colonial America. Paige & the LEARN Works interpreter explained how the Spanish princesses brought their Spanish culture of music and dance to France. Paige performed a Spanish dance with castanets. Barry Baugess demonstrated various types of trumpet and brass instruments from the 15’s through modern times.

Students, along with their parents and older siblings were able to ask the performers questions about the music, the instruments and the style of dance.

 

 

Paige Whitley-Baugess

LEARN Works

Ada Jenkins Center

On Thursday, February 25, 2021, Music @ St. Alban's, in conjunction with the Town of Davidson, provided a virtual Family Engagement music enrichment event at the Ada Jenkins Center LEARN Works After School Academic Enrichment Program.

The violinist, Mei-Li Garcia Beane, born and raised in Spain, spoke with the students in both English and Spanish. She performed numerous brief selections of musical offerings from 10th century Spain, 16th century Italy, 15th century Ottoman Empire, 18th century German along with music from North Africa, Ireland and Scotland.

The students were particularly delighted with the performer’s demonstration of sounds of nature which Antonio Vivaldi wove into his “Four Seasons” composition and delighted in identifying the sea gulls, flowing river and birds.

 

 

Violinist Mei-Li Garcia Beane