Lewes venue showcases upstate high school musicians

The William Penn High School Garage Band from New Castle took the stage at The Room at Cedar Grove in Lewes Jan. 11, performing as part of Paul Kares’ Young Musicians Showcase Series.

The sold-out event featured 22 student performers and marked the second program in a six-concert lineup designed to give young musicians a professional venue with a live audience.

“When young musicians walk into a professional venue and see a full house waiting for them, it brings a new dimension to their passion,” said Jim Rivette, president of Paul Kares, which supports young performing and culinary artists. “The series helps them gain confidence and experience before a community that shows up for them.”

The Garage Band is a program founded by William Penn High School teacher Andrew Erickson to teach student musicians the art of collaboration and to uphold the legacy of classic rock. It started with just a few amps, guitars, basses, electric drum sets and a PA system, with support from the Colonial School District. A Paul Kares grant allowed Erickson to add microphones, a bass amp and effects pedals, giving his students the tools to take their sound to the next level.