May 19, 2017 - Project String Power held its 2017 Guitar, Rock, and Bluegrass Recital on Thursday, May 18 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Carthage. Individual performers included: Luke Lawrence, Minuet in G (J.S. Bach); Slade Wedgeworth, Rockin’ Robin (Jimmie Thomas); Garrett Mettauer, Chainbreaker (Zach Williams); Charlie Barber, The Star-Spangled Banner (Francis Scott Key); Clayton Elliot, When the Saints Go Marching In (spiritual); Gavin LaGrone, Rock O’ My Soul (spiritual); Caleb Miller, Amazing Grace (John Newton); and Keiler Norman, Spanish Ballad (traditional).
Six students are members of the Texas Made rock band, including Daren Allen (guitar), Jonathan Broadus (guitar), Lee Broadus (guitar), John Childs (bass guitar), Paige Hastings (acoustic guitar and vocals), and Molly Scull (drums). The band performed Tequila (The Champs), Come Together (Lennon and McCartney), Cotton Fields (Leadbelly), The Pink Panther Theme (Henry Mancini), and Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes).
Three students perform as part of the Silver Dew bluegrass band, including Anna Bardwell on violin; Hannah Menefee on violin and mandolin; and John Williams on guitar. Husband and wife duo Tim and Nancy Blake accompanied the students on banjo and upright bass.
Martyn Popey directs Texas Made and teaches all styles of guitar, bass guitar, and upright bass. Tim and Nancy Blake direct Silver Dew and teach banjo and guitar, respectively. “Music lasts forever,” Nancy Blake said during the concert. “It’s something students take with them wherever they go.”
Project String Power is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide all residents of East Texas the affordable opportunity to learn to play a stringed instrument and prepare students to pursue a music career if they so choose. Lessons run from September through June each year, and scholarships are available. For more information, visit projectstringpower.org or contact Joyce Hughes at (903) 263-0598.
