A performance at the House of Blues would be a dream come true for any aspiring musician. In the case of EPIC Academy’s Four Layer Players, it’s a completely atttainable dream: On Thursday, April 30 at 10am, they’ll be participating in the Action for the Arts Recital at the House of Blues and performing for a crowd that you could be a part of – RSVP to bfoster@urbangateways.org if you’d like to attend!
These high school students have been participating in an Urban Gateways drumline program led by teaching artist Michael Riendeau, learning about collaboration, rhythm, and the value of practice, practice, practice. The program was funded by the House of Blues Music Forward Foundation, and its impact is clear when you get the students talking:
“What I enjoy about drumline is that my peers around me, they’re very supportive of me and if I mess up, they’re able to get me back on track. And I like that we come up with something new each time. There’s always something I can look forward to, and I always come back. I was literally waiting on winter break just to come back and play drums.”
At Urban Gateways’ annual Art for All Gala on March 20, we featured the Four Layer Players in an awesome new program video by Chris Siler. (The screening was followed by an epic drum-off between student Jawon Mayberry, teaching artist Michael Riendeau, and Urban Gateways Executive Director Eric Delli Bovi.) Give it a watch to hear from the student quoted above and many others:
If you’re ready for more from these talented percussionists, join us at the House of Blues on April 30. We’d love to have friends of Urban Gateways show up to support our drummers on their musical journey.
MORE DETAILS (AND RSVP INFO) RIGHT HERE. >>
Huge thanks to the House of Blues Music Forward Foundation. Without their support, these students wouldn’t have had the opportunity to drum during the 2015-16 school year. And that, as you’ll see on the 30th, would have been a true loss for Chicago.
