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Blues SchoolHouse 2023

July 11, 2023, 11:52 am

Blues SchoolHouse returned live for the first time since 2019 and rocked the roof off the Boston House of Blues!

Thank you Music Drives Us, Crossroads Presents, and Citizens House of Blues Boston for your continued partnership in this program! 3,150 kids joined us for an epic field trip this year, singing and dancing through Blues SchoolHouse. The show chronicles the story of blues from its beginnings in Africa, its evolution into the blues as we know it, and its continued influence on popular music & culture today all through music performed by our spectacular Blues SchoolHouse band.

By the Numbers…

3,150 Young People & 338 Educators

67% of students were BIPOC youth

13% Asian, 21% Black/African American, 28% Hispanic, 33% White, 4% Multi-Ethnic, 1% Other

Get a taste of Blues SchoolHouse by exploring the history of Black Music here.

“Being a child who attended the program in its developmental stage, who is now performing in the same program, as a professional musician and entertainer. I can personally attest to how powerful and influential this program is! To see the faces of children light up… most seeing their first ever, CONCERT! It’s an honor and privilege, to have this great responsibility of educating and empowering the next generation of artists and creators!” – Zachary Rochester, Blues School House Bassist

Meet the Band

John Wadkins
Keyboardist/Musical Director
John is an accomplished musician, piano teacher, and piano technician. As part of the Boston music scene, he has been playing a variety of musical styles for 25 years. After more than a decade with the Blues SchoolHouse Band, John continues to find joy in educating young people about the history of American music.
Ayeisha Mathis
Drummer

Ayeisha Mathis is a Boston native. At the tender age of 5 she fell in love with the drums and percussion. She quickly rose to become a sought-after drummer showing extraordinary talent and a promising future in music. Due to her musical success, as a teen she was invited to join the Zildjian and Vater families as an endorsed artist. Currently, Mathis is a Professor at Berklee College of Music.

Katani Sumner
Vocalist/Narrator

Katani is one of the original MC’s of the Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues, is the featured lead vocalist for Gospel Night at the Pops, bandleader of “Katani & the Krew,” and has been a singer/songwriter and educator for over 25 years.

Roman Barten-Sherman
Guitarist
Roman Barten-Sherman has always been ensconced in the study and performance of social dance music from the American South. As a trans-woman in the blues world, Roman strives to spotlight traditional music from radical female guitarists. Roman’s guitar playing melds virtuosic Piedmont fingerstyle with the hypnotic grooves and stomps of the North Mississippi Hill Country.
Sympli Whitney
Vocalist/Narrator
In 2014 Sympli Whitney was featured on BET’s season finale of “Apollo Live” where she left the judges speechless and unable to compare her sound to any other. Her music just feels like home. She has graced the stage of several nationally known venues while curating powerful performances backed by a variety of internationally recognized musicians.
Zachary Rochester
Bassist
Zachary Rochester is a Boston-born musician and educator. Known as “Z-String,” Zachary has been performing professionally since the age of 16, and teaching music since 2008. While being a multi-instrumentalist, Zachary’s main instrument is the bass guitar, and he is well-versed in multiple styles.

Thank you for your support that inspires endless creativity and ambition. We are breaking the barriers of gender, poverty, and race for young people to enter the music industry, stay connected, and follow their dreams. We are grateful for your partnership and look forward to our continued collective impact.

Music Forward transforms young lives, inspires careers, and champions a more inclusive music industry.

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