Karla Felecia Scaife
The E N Bates Music Enrichment Program will present its inaugural event The Tribute Series on Jan. 11. The first installment of The Tribute Series is A Tribute to Anita Baker: An Evening with Karla Felecia Scaife. Frank Bumpass will be featured.
The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. with Mr. Bumpass. Ms. Scaife will begin the Tribute to Anita Baker at 8 p.m. at The Granfalloon, 400 E. Main St. Tickets are $35 and are available here.
The E N Bates Music Enrichment Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide piano lessons, using the group piano lab format for children, ages 5-17 years. The event will provide the resources to help in the acquisition of a modular classroom/building to house the group piano lab. Previous fundraising activities have funded the Group Piano Lab.
The program is named after the late Rev. E. N. Bates, father of the program director, Celeste Bates Scaife. Rev. Bates was the founder of the Greater Second Baptist Church. He was also the assistant principal of Chattanooga High School (now named, Chattanooga High School Center for the Creative Arts.
A pastor and educator, Rev. Bates understood the importance of exposing children to music. Piano training at a young age boosts cognitive and intellectual ability and activates similar parts of the brain used in spatial reasoning and math, said officials. Rev. Bates also identified the musical abilities of his daughter, Celeste.
The Group Piano Lab will be the first of its kind in the Eastdale Community of Chattanooga.
For more information, contact Celeste Bates Scaife, cbscaife@enbatesmusicenrichmentprogram, 402-0072.