Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School

(Note: Charina Kimes and Eli Dawson, 2012 Lincoln Park graduates, were presented with full four-year scholarships at this event in Boston. They previously had been awarded partial scholarships.)

Berklee scholarship winners; Kimes and Dawson at far left

Dr. Krystal Prime Banfield, Dean of Berklee City Music, congratulates Eli Dawon.

(Berklee College of Music press release)

AMERICAN IDOL WINNER KRIS ALLEN AND BERKLEE CITY MUSIC
HOST 2012 SCHOLARSHIP CONCERT
Scholarships Pave Way to Higher Education through Music for Youth from Underserved Communities

August 9, 2012 (BOSTON):  Last night, American Idol winner Kris Allen and 97 talented youth from around the country performed their hearts out during the Berklee City Music Scholarship Concert. An annual event that showcases the accomplishments of Berklee City Music youth in the final week of Berklee College of Music's Five-Week Summer Performance Program and awards students with 2012 City Music College Scholarships to attend Berklee College of Music. 

"My passion is music education and my work with Music Empowers Foundation introduced me to this amazing network connected by Berklee City Music.  These kids are beyond talented, but it takes organizations like Berklee City Music to help them turn talent into a tool for success in life," Kris Allen said.

Berklee City Music is a nonprofit program that harnesses the energy of contemporary music to provide music education to 4th through 12th graders in underserved communities at 38 Network sites, educating more than 10,000 students across the country, and bringing as many as 100 of them to Boston each summer.  Each year, Berklee City Music awards scholarships to attend Berklee's Five-Week Summer Performance Program as well as four-year scholarships to attend Berklee College of Music.

2012 City Music College Scholarship:  Full four-year scholarships for study at Berklee College of Music, beginning fall 2012, were awarded to City Music Summer Scholarship recipients who have been accepted by the college and completed the Berklee College of Music Five-Week Summer Performance Program. The following 2012 students received City Music College Scholarships:

Khari Alamin, Voice, Stax Music Academy, Memphis, TNJabril Barnes, Trumpet, The Music Settlement, Cleveland, OHBrian Benton, Bass, The Music Settlement, Cleveland, OHWendy Chung, Voice, Berklee City Music, Boston, MAJohn Dandan, Piano, East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, Richmond, CA Eli Dawson, Guitar, Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Pittsburgh, PA Robert Gould, Voice, Little 5 Points Music School, Atlanta, GADanielle John, Voice and Piano, Boston and City Music High School Academy, Boston, MATamina Johnson-Lawson, Voice, A Place Called Home, Los Angeles, CA Charina Kimes, Voice, Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Pittsburgh, PA Langston Maxwell, Drums and Piano, The Music Settlement, Cleveland, OHRachel McLean, Voice and Flute, Berklee City Music, Boston, MAMatthew Pitts, Bass, Berklee City Music, Boston, MAEmily Ronna, Voice, Berklee City Music, Boston, MALangston Theard, Voice, Tipitina's Foundation, New Orleans, LAVanDarrel Woods, Trumpet, The Music Settlement, Cleveland, OH

With the ongoing struggle to provide access to music education in the United States, Berklee City Music Network is providing a pathway to higher education by engaging passionate, talented youth in underserved communities in a contemporary music education program.

"Every year, for the last 20 years, I am blown away by the power of music.  When these kids develop their talents and skills in music, you can see their confidence grow too and with that, the potential for success is just limitless," J. Curtis Warner, Jr., Executive Director, Berklee City Music, said.

Charina Kimes, a daughter of Verona and Mark Rozier of Pittsburgh,is a soprano majoring in vocal performance at Lincoln Park. She has been a member of the Pittsburgh Junior Mendelssohn Choir for three years, including 2011 when the choir was awarded the prestigious American Prize. She was a finalist for the choir's Barbara Cass Award for outstanding senior.

 Kimes was a member of the Pittsburgh Oakland Girls Choir, and sang in a number of Lincoln Park productions and recitals, including Stardust and the Red Hot R&B Revue jazz concert and workshop.

 Eli Dawson is a son of Angela and Bill Dawson of Harmony, Pa. During his three years at Lincoln Park, he played with the guitar ensemble, orchestra, and jazz improvisation group, and sang in the school chorus. He and friends often form a band to play at benefit events and weddings.

 Dawson's major is undecided but his main interests are guitar performance and classical music composition. He also plays piano and string bass.

 Eli Dawson performing at the Berklee summer concert