Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon
The lights dimmed low with candles on paper-covered tabletops as six local musical groups took over the transformed sanctuary of Central Presbyterian Church in Towson. These talented minstrels took to the stage in a benefit concert for Acts4Youth. A4Y is a 3 year old non-profit focusing on motivating at-risk boys in character, competence and career development. They began with 8 boys in the 4th grade at Guilford Elementary and Middle School and have added 8-10 boys in each subsequent 4th grade class every year while continuing the after school program with the previous years students.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon, story by Michael Ivan Schwartz.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon
Brice Dean
Brian and Erin Donovan began the night with a melodic cover of Amos Lee’s Freedom. Continuing in the theme of covers, Brice Dean infused the night with a unique Michael Jackson cover of Man in the Mirror. Brice’s funked out acoustic guitar rendering of the MJ classic stirred the crowd of 300 who were happily sipping away on their custom brewed espressos and cappuccinos served by the coffee caterers of Travelling Bean.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon, story by Michael Ivan Schwartz.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon
Cameron Blake
Playing all original music, Cameron Blake took over and captivated the audience. The 3-song set with keyboard, cello and percussion were a huge hit with the heavily caffeinated listeners.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon, story by Michael Ivan Schwartz.
Check out Cameron’s CD Release party at An Die Musik.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon
Brody Bond
The music continued with a stellar soulful cover of For You by newcomer Jae Jin who recently released his first “orijinal” song, Let Go. Following Jae, Brody Bond brought some original tunes with rocking piano backing from Jon Maurer. In the end, the message from the benefit concert for one of the city’s most unique programs for at-risk youth in the public schools could be summed in the words of one of its staff members, Antoine, who shared of his struggle to find a positive male role model in his early days growing up in Baltimore. He learned many of life’s lessons the hard way, but now he is able to give to these young men what he so sorely missed.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon, story by Michael Ivan Schwartz.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon
Mark Meadows
Headliners, Good Question, fronted by Mark Meadows impressed with original jazz funk as well as a compelling cover of Crazy by Gnarles Barkley.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon, story by Michael Ivan Schwartz.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon
Kevin Good, founder and executive director of Acts4Youth, interviewed Lorraine Harris a teacher at Guilford who shared her perspective on how A4Y has directly impacted her students. Harris is known as a tough teacher and the boys in the program have experienced first-hand how good behavior in her class pays off in the rewards and incentives offered with A4Y. Two of the kids from the program shared with the audience what activities they get to participate in during the 5-days each week they spend in the after school program. They visit local businesses and interview the owners and managers. They get to take classes in karate, music production and bicycle repair. One of the highlights for the kids are the weekly football games and monthly fun trips that they earn through scoring well in their daily activities in the program as well as from reports from their teachers.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon, story by Michael Ivan Schwartz.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon
Trina Bass Coleman and Kellie Zephir
This was the 3rd annual benefit concert for Acts4Youth and with the response from the crowd, the quality of the music and the impact of the program, expect year 4 to be even better.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon, story by Michael Ivan Schwartz.
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon
Photos by German Om and Brian Jeon, story by Michael Ivan Schwartz.
