"F" graduated from Valley High School where he was an active member of the football team as well as the high school orchestra. He didn't care that he didn't fit the social norm and found a way to balance his love for sport as well as music.
Even before "F" entered high school, he was know to play his violin.......All. The. Time. He was passionate about creating music that reflected his style and experience, and he inspired others to make the music their own. "F" was often disruptive in class and had a hard time focusing and stopping. He was a fast learner with a lot of raw talent, but needed access to additional training to get the technical skills necessary to thrive in his music creation.
"F" did not have the financial means or transportation to be able to enrich his musical training. "F" started staying after school once a week for individualized instruction, and the school was able to provide a city bus voucher for him to get home. After all of his efforts, "F" was able to participate in Kentucky Solo/Ensemble contest that year, and he received a gold rating.
The following year, I recommended "F" for private instruction from Keith Cook - an African-American violin who quit his job with the Louisville Orchestra to focus on building a grant/donation funded violin studio for talented minority youth in the West End of Louisville. "F" thrived under Mr. Cook's instruction.
"F" has since continued on to Music Industry/Recording Arts Degree from the Eastern Kentucky University. Additionally, "F" has implemented violin performance and recording as a form of Advocacy in the Black Lives Matter movement.
*Learn more about WESTEC (West End Talent Education Center) on their facebook page and listen to their WUOL 90.5 radio interview.
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