Spread Music, Spread Joy
MCMA is dedicated to helping all students access quality music education, regardless of their financial situation. Since the school was founded in January 2012, we awarded over $130,000 to committed students to pursue their music education. In a typical school year, 50% of our student population receives tuition assistance.
MCMA now raises $30,000 annually to support committed music students during our academic semester and summer programs. We are honored to recognize the following MCMA students, parents, and community members who have elected to raise a named scholarship in honor of a cause, person, or musical concept.
Read on to learn more about the inspiration behind each of these special named scholarships.
JUST TEACHERS’ INSTRUMENT FUND
It’s not “creative differences.” No one is in failing rehab. There’s no Yoko. No divas. Our manager hasn’t sold us out. No one has died from drug use...
All the usual ways bands break up just don’t apply here. In fact we all love each other like brothers, still, after all these years. It’s just that our time as a band is coming to an end.
So, just as the band grew organically from an after-school teacher band rehearsal, now too it will end organically.
In addition to our ambitious and creative mash-ups, we have been known for our philanthropy, particularly for causes that benefit kids. Our final act will be no exception. We have teamed with Midcoast Music Academy to initiate the Just Teachers’ Instrument Fund, a fund to make instruments available for students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford them. It’s our way to ensure that all local kids will have the opportunity to learn to play and experience the joy of making music together.
THE ERIC DAVIS JAZZ FUND
Eric was a life-long musician and his biggest passion was traditional jazz music. He played trumpet starting in grade school, added flugelhorn and upright bass in high school, and also sang in the school chorus, including in a barbershop quartet. Eric played upright bass for many years in several Midcoast jazz groups, including the Eric Davis Jazz Trio, Three Button Deluxe, Bel-Isle Trio, and the Wayne Delano Jazz Quartet. He touched many lives through his jazz music performances, and whenever and wherever he played, it was always a toss-up as to who was getting more enjoyment out of the performances – his audiences, or Eric and his fellow musicians!
Shortly before he died, Eric created and endowed the Eric Davis Jazz Fund, as his legacy to promote and support traditional Jazz Music performance and education in Mid-Coast Maine. Per his request, a primary beneficiary will be the Midcoast Music Academy in Rockport.
Eric will be long remembered for his kindness to, acceptance of, and non-judgmental approach to others. One of his few regrets at the end of his life was that he would not be around longer to spread the simple message of the importance of loving our fellow human beings, which he lived by example so well.
This button redirects you to the Maine Community Foundation site. Please select “Eric Davis Jazz Fund” from the dropdown menu.
THE DENNIS H. LOPEZ MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Raised by Jen Feldman, Executive Director
Dennis H. Lopez was a poet, author, carpenter, journeyman, dog lover, beach bum, friend and, above all things, a musician. Den passed away suddenly this spring. “Love and help others” were his last words. I had been struggling with how best to honor my friend in a way that would be in line with his life and philosophy until the idea for a memorial scholarship was placed in my lap. I cannot think of a better way to honor the memory of this generous musician than by offering the opportunity to play, grow and learn to another student of the art. I cannot think of a school better suited to his gifts than Midcoast Music Academy.
Dennis was a killer bass player with an intensely sneaky groove that I miss. He could intuitively feel the group better than anyone I’ve ever played with. He practiced every day that I knew him, usually pulling along to his beloved Aimee Mann in his living room with the windows open. He had a bone-dry wit that cut through ego and nonsense. He loved the 5-string Alembic that he bought “by accident” in San Francisco, and that crazy low B that he’d drop at just the right moment.
In honor of my pal, the Dennis H. Lopez memorial scholarship will be offered to a young musician who is ready to work hard to improve her or his craft and who is inspired to experience the joyful give and take of making music with a group.
THE GIRLS ROCK! SCHOLARSHIP
Founded by Vera Fine, former MCMA Student
When Vera came up with the idea for this scholarship fund, she wrote the following letter:
MCMA has exceptionally talented instructors and an extremely supportive atmosphere, but what I find most outstanding about MCMA is their commitment to provide scholarships to music students who otherwise cannot afford music lessons. Each year, MCMA works very hard to raise money for their scholarship program so that all local talented musicians can have access to lessons.
The scholarship program is especially important to me because having spent my early years in an orphanage in Russia and then going on to be adopted and live in the US, I know what it means to be given an opportunity in life. The MCMA scholarship fund ensures that no local musically inclined student will be denied the opportunity to grow and develop their talent.
My goal is to raise money for an MCMA “Girls Rock!” scholarship. Being a girl drummer, I want to help interested girls to have access to music lessons and be inspired to find their voice and their talent. Music is a gift to us all, so please take a minute and donate whatever you can.
Please remember every penny counts. It’s nice to know you can help someone reach their dreams!
Thank you and rock on,
Vera Fine, age 17
Vera at the 2017 Lobster Festival. Photo credit: Tim Sullivan
Purchase a Girls Rock! Tee to support Vera's fund -- all proceeds go towards her efforts.
THE 7/4 SCHOLARSHIP
Raised by Ruben Feldman,
MCMA Alum
Ruben is raising this scholarship in honor of his favorite time signature, 7/4. To commemorate the fund, Ruben designed a logo (pictured here).
In describing his scholarship, Ruben writes:
"Every time I go to MCMA, I am greeted by awesome people who help me improve my playing, make me feel good about myself, and have a ton of fun doing it. I get to play with other passionate musicians and learn from them, and perform live in different venues in the Rockland area. I am truly grateful for this, and am raising this scholarship so that others can have the chance to improve their skills and expand their musical community. The 7/4 scholarship is especially for groovin’ rhythm players who are ready to lay down the beats!"
Ruben, age 13
Ruben at the 2017 Lobster Festival. Photo credit: Tim Sullivan
THE ANDY REITZ SCHOLARSHIP
Raised by Barbara Reitz, MCMA Board Member
Midcoast Music Academy embodies the best of music education. In an atmosphere of safety and fun, lessons inspire discipline, risk taking, and teamwork. We are funding this scholarship because Midcoast Music Academy provides just what music education has been to our family: joyful, collaborative, and enlightening.
Andy showed us very early that he could hear more than we could. At age 5 he started lessons in percussion at the Rivers Music School in Weston, Massachusetts, continued to 18 and then went on to summer sessions at the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory. In addition to developing his consuming passion in music, he acquired new skills, which led to his business start-up and success as an entrepreneur.
Quality music education is a life-long blessing. Midcoast Music Academy never turns away a committed student for lack of funds – a philosophy we are honored to support.
GARY CLANCY MEMORIAL FUND
Gary was born in Troy, New York on November 12, 1951. As a young musician in the 60s and early 70s, Gary had an illustrious career touring the east coast, sharing the stage with or opening for many renowned national acts (garyclancy.wixsite.com/gary-clancy/old-skool-
recording).
Gary became the owner/music director of the “Dr. Music” program from June 1985 until June 2004, bringing music students to a higher level of playing and education. From June 1985 until 2013 Gary was a music educator/private instructor teaching a variety of instruments and music related topics at Northern Kingdom Music.
As owner of FNA Recording productions and Rosewood Recording Studio from July 1988 to October 2000 in Bremen, Maine, Gary created and produced a variety of multimedia recordings for TV, radio, film, and CD release. He also served as an adjunct professor of jazz and contemporary music at University of Maine in Augusta and Rockland starting in 1987, teaching the music business curriculum, guitar, bass and ensembles.
Shortly after Midcoast Music Academy was founded in 2012, founder Tom Ulichny received a phone call from an unknown number. On the other end of the line was Gary- a lifelong musician and UMaine faculty member in the music department who cut his teeth touring and gigging, recording, producing, writing, and teaching music. He had run across an ad Tom had placed seeking students and faculty members for a new, contemporary music school in Rockland. He was curious about this new school and wanted to meet Tom.
Upon entering Midcoast Music Academy for the first time, Gary looked around at the small, 400-square foot studio that had one waiting room, one lesson room, and a handful of instruments scattered about to help fill in the corners- and he simply grinned.
Tom and Gary spoke about educational philosophy, swapped stories from the road, shared a few laughs about the good old days of how music used to be. Almost immediately, they agreed about how imperative it is to create a safe and welcoming environment so that any student could realize their potential to explore, create, fail in order to succeed, and in all ways embrace and communicate through the world's universal language, which is music. On a handshake, Midcoast Music Academy truly started that day with its first faculty member.
Gary Clancy loved MCMA from the first day he walked through the door. He believed in Tom during moments of doubt and stress, tears and desperation. Gary poured such love and unwavering support into the crazy idea to start a school from scratch with nothing else but heart and belief.
Reflections from some of Gary’s students may best tell the story of a life well lived:
“It is with a heavy heart that I learn about the passing of a man who transformed my life.” “He ignited a lifelong passion for the guitar and music in general.” “I’m not sure you ever knew the gravity of the true impact you’ve had on others.” “Musical Mentors are more than teachers... They are planters of seeds that will bear the fruit of their musical legacy long after they leave us...” “One of the greatest men to ever touch my life. And it didn’t matter where you fell on the musical knowledge scale Gary never made you feel inferior.” “Gary taught me that sometimes as in life the wrong notes are the right choices to get to where you want to be.” “He pushed my creativity instead of my technicality. I will always hold my time with him close to my heart.” “He ushered in countless non-traditional musicians into the UMA music program with grace, patience and wisdom. He was able to gently push us to expand our boundaries.” “Inclusive of everyone at all levels. An amazing teacher and beautiful human being.”
Gary Clancy will be missed. His music is in the air, his lessons are in the walls.
As a founding faculty member of Midcoast Music Academy, Gary’s passion for music and education will live on through the Gary Clancy Memorial Scholarship Fund. This will help fulfill the mission of allowing any dedicated student to study music regardless of financial constraint.
