The Salvation Army School of Music and Arts students will give a concert on Tuesday
May 9-15 is National Salvation Army Week, declared by President Eisenhower decades ago to honor the work of The Salvation Army throughout America. The Salvation Army School of Music and Arts invites the community to its free, spring graduation concert on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
The concert will be held at The Salvation Army’s Citadel Corps Community Center at 1019 North Moore Road across from Brainerd High School.
The students, many of whom have never publicly performed, will show off their newly learned skills. “Studies have proven that learning how to play a musical instrument boosts children’s self-esteem and makes them more self-confident, taking them further in school and in life,” said Lieutenant Johnny Horton, Salvation Army officer-in-charge of the Corps Community Center in Brainerd. “This School of Music and Arts has been a vital part of our youth programs for many years.”
The Chattanooga Salvation Army School of Music & Art was founded in 2001 to serve as a center for providing discipline, encouraging leadership and enhancing the readiness to learn of low income, high-risk students in the Brainerd community. The school teaches selected music and art skills and provides activities, resources and incentives that motivate and guide each young person to achieve success now and in the future, said officials.
Students enroll in a major class depending on school grade and select two elective classes. The major class for Grades 3-5 is General Music Introduction and Recorder. The Grade 6-12 major class is Brass Band. Elective classes are Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Art and Dance. SOMA instruction is also available to young persons in any public or private school and to those homeschooled in and beyond the Brainerd area.
Corresponding with the public school year semesters, SOMA classes are offered each Tuesday evening. Trained, professionally competent instructors serve as the mentor-teachers. These have included middle and high school music directors as well as qualified music instructors from a diversity of local organizations including the CSO and the Jericho Brass.
The SOMA program is always in need of musical instruments and monetary donations. To donate instruments call 756-1023. To donate monetarily visit www.csarmy.org or call 1-800-Sal-Army. For more information contact Marketing Director Kimberly George at 503-1801 or Kimberly_George@uss.salvationarmy.org.
The Salvation Army School of Music and Arts students will give a concert on Tuesday