Young musicians receive grants from Lewes nonprofit

William Penn High School’s Garage Band and Berklee College of Music student Noah Gibney recently received grants from Paul Kares, a Lewes-based nonprofit supporting young artists.

An award of $1,500 helped fund the purchase of new sound equipment for Garage Band, a 3-year-old program in the upstate high school. 

Teacher Andrew Erickson, who plays in a classic rock band, created the class to teach students how to play in a traditional rock/pop band. “The purpose of Garage Band is to get kids who are interested in the great rock bands, past and current,” said Eirckson. “They learn to cover the bands’ songs and possibly record their own music.” 

With help from the Colonial School District, Erickson purchased guitar and bass amps, three guitars, two basses, three electric drum sets and a Mackie PA system. 

Gibney will use his $1,000 grant to fund his trip to the Roots Rock Revival in the Catskill Mountains of New York. The annual music camp was founded by members of the Allman Brothers Band family. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity,” Gibney said. He will attend the Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship.