Bravo Waukegan: Empowering Kids Through Music

Bravo Waukegan: Empowering Kids Through Music

Research is showing that music has the power to transform lives, and grassroots efforts all over the country are positively impacting the futures of children in underserved areas by putting musical instruments into their hands. The remarkable effects of these music programs include engaging children, improving their self discipline, and ultimately stabilizing their communities.

In 2009, when Waukegan’s public school programming began to feel the woes of a stressed economy, Lake Forest’s Pat Sikorovsky founded Bravo Waukegan. Bravo Waukegan, headquartered at Gorton Community Center in Lake Forest, is a not-for-profit organization that provides Waukegan students the opportunity to grow through music. Today, Bravo impacts more than 3,000 students per year by supporting the music faculty and programs of Waukegan public schools.

Bravo Waukegan began with a focus on instrument collection and repair and has donated $58,500 in instruments to the Waukegan school district. Bravo also provides resources for in-school, after-school and summer music education opportunities for students. These resources range from professional development for faculty to Bravo Buddies, a subsidized four-week summer camp with one-on-one music instruction. Additionally, Bravo sponsors more than 200 elementary and middle school students in after-school mariachi clubs, as well as the high school’s drum and bugle corps. Bravo is currently working with Waukegan’s school districts to bring an innovative early education music curriculum to kindergarten, first and second grade classrooms in the fall of 2017.

Bravo Waukegan

“It was extremely important to Pat that all young people have an opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument, if they were interested,” says Bravo Waukegan Executive Director Karey Walker. “It’s our belief that access to music education is a right and not a privilege to gaining a full education. Waukegan students are no exception.” Bravo helps fill gaps monetarily and otherwise in an effort to provide opportunity where it might not otherwise exist.

There is proof of Bravo’s impact in the numbers. Data from Waukegan High School shows that the graduation rate for music students is 15 percent higher than non-musical students, students taking advance placement courses is double, and their grade point averages are considerably higher.

Bravo Waukegan is in good company with other organizations throughout the country that are impacting positive change on their communities through music. For nearly 25 years, Hungry for Music — based in Washington, D.C. — has placed more than 10,000 instruments in the hands of aspiring musicians. They’ve delivered everything from guitars and trombones to xylophones and violins to children in 48 states and 20 countries.

“The purpose of Hungry for Music is to embrace the positive qualities of music: its ability to create community, to inspire, to express a talent, to unite, and most importantly, its ability to heal,” says Hungry for Music Founder Jeff Campbell.

In California, the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation is doing its part to keep music a vital part of school curriculums. The foundation was inspired by the motion picture “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” the story of the profound effect a dedicated music teacher had on generations of students. The film’s composer, Michael Kamen, started the foundation in 1996. His foundation provides durable, high-quality musical instruments to underfunded music programs. By increasing a school’s inventory of instruments, music teachers are given the tools they need to deliver quality music education to students who want to learn, instilling a sense of pride that spills over into the entire school.

“Music programming in our schools is essential,” says Matt Fetbrandt, program associate at Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. “Last year, we celebrated 20 years of supporting the mission of keeping music alive in schools.”

On June 11, Bravo Waukegan will host its annual fundraiser, “We Rise Through Music,” at the historic Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest. Taking place from noon to 2 p.m., the afternoon will include a festive luncheon, inspiring program, and a live musical performance from some of Bravo Waukegan’s students.

 

To learn more about Bravo Waukegan or to purchase tickets to the its fundraiser, visit bravowaukegan.org.

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