Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville, Ohio, strives to provide a space dedicated to student-run creativity with its after-school music program.
AMP welcomes all students ages 12 through 21 and provides them access to a recording studio, practice rooms, instruments and guidance from multiple instructors. Stuart established the program 13 years ago and continues to support local children who have a passion for making music.
Four days a week, nearly 65 students gather in Stuart’s, located at 52 Public Square, to meet up, practice and showcase their musical talents.
Each student can learn recording, performance, collaboration and other musical skills. Adam Remnant, assistant director of arts education at Stuart’s AMP, has been involved in the program since year one.
He said at the start of each year, he places students into groups based on their music styles and skill levels.
“A lot of times we'll have students coming in starting at all different abilities, so I try to get them with peers that have roughly the same abilities as each other,” Remnant said. “I usually just try to get them to play music with peers that are roughly into the same music roughly.”
Remnant said the students will have opportunities to perform this year, and a performance was already booked at Casa Nueva on 6 W. State St. for the Athens Artists Memorial Project Fundraiser on Oct. 21. The bands also perform every year at Benefest, a show at The Union Bar on 18 W. State St. to support Stuart’s AMP.
Remnant said the first goal for the bands this year is to write and record an original song, as well as mix and release it.
"We try to make it very student-led in terms of the style of music; we don’t tell them what songs to play,” he said.
The music program has been supported through donations from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation for 10 years. AMP also benefits from smaller donors, including local businesses and individuals. Enrolling in the program is free; however, students and families are encouraged to make a $200 donation.
Evan Seurkane, an Ohio University senior studying music production and recording industry, has been in the program for six years as a teacher and student. Seurkane is a member of “The Laughing Chimes,” a band created in Stuart’s AMP.
“I think one of the biggest ways that AMP helps is that it's really nice to be able to kind of get in a situation where you can be playing and practicing every week with your peers,” Seurkane said. “So I think that is really invaluable and it's great that they are able to offer that, especially for no cost at all.”
As an instructor, Seurkane said his role is to support the students through their creative processes and help them become the best version of themselves. He also said instructors act as band managers or producers.
Sometimes we will, as instructors, try to challenge them in a sense, so that they can get better and help kind of build their confidence more,” Seurkane said.
Juno Beard, program coordinator for arts education at Stuart’s AMP, said the program has grown. In previous years, Beard said there has been one band, but now there are nearly 10.
“I think it's really great to get kids involved in the arts,” he said. “Especially in today's world, where I think sometimes the arts aren't as valued as they should be in terms of what they do for students’ development and their socio-emotional growth.”
For students interested in applying for next year’s music program at Stuart’s Opera House, visit here for more information.
