About the downtown music lab 1999-2008
History
Records and Live Shows
History
The Downtown Music Lab was originally the idea of a group of local business leaders, including Ed Walker, Skip Brown, Mickey Nelson, Drew Kepley and others, who saw the idea working in Charlottesville, VA. In 1999 they hired Charlie Hamill to help them startup a Roanoke based after-school music program for middle and high school students.
The Downtown Music Lab was originally the idea of a group of local business leaders, including Ed Walker, Skip Brown, Mickey Nelson, Drew Kepley and others, who saw the idea working in Charlottesville, VA. In 1999 they hired Charlie Hamill to help them startup a Roanoke based after-school music program for middle and high school students. The Downtown Music Lab thrived in downtown Roanoke for 10 years before being absorbed by the Jefferson Center due to a change in funding resources during the 2008 recession. The Music Lab continues to operate www.jeffcenter.org/educate.
Students
Records and Live Shows
History
Students from middle and high schools all over southwest Virginia attended the Lab every day after school. The main focus was to reach students with fewer financial and supportive opportunities. There was no fee to join the Downtown Music Lab, and students just had to be enrolled in and attending school to join. There were 5 mini studios
Students from middle and high schools all over southwest Virginia attended the Lab every day after school. The main focus was to reach students with fewer financial and supportive opportunities. There was no fee to join the Downtown Music Lab, and students just had to be enrolled in and attending school to join. There were 5 mini studios with a variety of instruments and recording equipment, plus a staff to train the students.
Records and Live Shows
Records and Live Shows
Records and Live Shows
During the years of 1999-2008, Charlie, the staff and the students at The Downtown Music Lab recorded 8 full length CDs or original music. The student members also had countless opportunities to perform live in front of small, medium and very big audiences, including opening for the Harlem Gospel Choir and the legendary Tower of Power.