Showing posts with label AfroAmericanMusicInstitute. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AfroAmericanMusicInstitute. Show all posts

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Portrayal and Perception: African American Men and Boys

AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN & BOYS SPECIALS EXPLORE PORTRAYAL & PERCEPTION


Portrayal & Perception: African American Men & Boys Premieres Tuesday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 14, 2012

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN & BOYS SPECIALS EXPLORE PORTRAYAL & PERCEPTION

Portrayal & Perception: African American Men & Boys

Premieres Tuesday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV


PITTSBURGH—In the new series Portrayal & Perception: African American Men & Boys viewers will discover local individuals and organizations who are challenging common portrayals and perceptions of them and their culture.

Chris Moore

To set-up the context for this important series WQED’s weekly multi-cultural program Horizons (which airs Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV) will hold a dynamic conversation on the February 21 episode about why re-shaping the portrayal and perception of African American males is important to all facets of our society. Joining Emmy®-Award winning producer and host Chris Moore will be for this discussion will be:

• Dr. Larry E. Davis, Dean of the Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh and Director of the Center on Race and Social Problems;

• Desmond King, Andrew Mellon Professor of American Government at Nuffield College, Oxford University;

• Dr. Marcia M. Sturdivant, Deputy Director of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Children, Youth and Families (CYF.)


Minette Seate

Known for teaching the craft and culture of African American musical forms to area youth for almost thirty years, The Afro American Music Institute (AAMI) has a lasting impact on the students it serves. On Tuesday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV the premiere episode of Portrayal & Perception: African American Men & Boys comes from Emmy®-Award winning producer Minette Seate. In this special, Seate explores the AAMI and its Boys Choir, where they continue a legacy of mentorship to children in our area. The AAMI goes beyond choir rehearsal to foster a culture of pride and responsibility to one’s community.

On Monday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV, Emmy®-Award winning producer Michael Bartley takes a look at local African American entrepreneurs. In this episode Bartley takes viewers to several local and unique businesses where hard-work, vision and service are the crux of these operations. Often overlooked by commercial media, these individuals are experiencing financial success and finding ways to inspire future business leaders.

The third of these special episodes airs on Tuesday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV from Moore who talks with African American males who are fed up with the portraits of them drawn by mainstream media. They believe that in order to combat these negative images it is their responsibility to define who they are instead of leaving it to someone else. Through One Hood Media Jasiri X and Paradise "The Arkitech" Gray are teaching young people how to control the image of young black males by using the mediums at their disposal. Moore explains to viewers how the New Media Academy of One Hood Media is helping the students use their own stories to prepare for the future.

A fourth episode and town hall meeting are also planned as part of the series and will air in October 2012.

Funding for Portrayal & Perception: African American Men & Boys was provided by a grant from The Heinz Endowments, which supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center for learning and educational excellence, and region that embraces diversity and inclusion.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Friday, June 17, 2011

AAMI Boys Choir 20th Anniversary Reunion Weekend


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



MEDIA CONTACT:

Pamela Johnson
Afro-American Music Institute
412-241-6775 or 412-443-1770
aamusicin@aol.com
http://www.afroamericanmusic.org/

7131 Hamilton Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15208







Photo: AAMI Boys Choir pictured with Dr. James Johnson (far left) and Howie Alexander (far right)


AAMI's Boys Choir 20th Anniversary Reunion Weekend

June 18-19 -- Pittsburgh Center for the Arts



PITTSBURGH, PA (PittsburghNewsWire.com) -- Twenty years ago Pamela Johnson, co-founder of the Afro American Music Institute, Inc. (AAMI), a nonprofit organization located in Homewood, started to honor fathers with the creation of a Father's Day Tribute concert. That one-day event, would lead to the creation of AAMI's Boys Choir of Pittsburgh. AAMI's Boys Choir, a community-based program, enables youth to experience the cultural richness and excitement of creative musical expressions. Hundreds of young men have been choir members, and now, twenty-one years later as of June 2011 the AAMI's Boys Choir is still the Institute's premier Performance Ensemble.

This year's Father's Day concert, features AAMI's Boys Choir alumni Tommy Parker. Tommy Parker started singing with AAMI's Boys Choir at the age of 10 years old; today, he is producer and songwriter for Darkchild, working with artists such as Janet Jackson, Usher, and many others. On June 19, at 4 PM, AAMI will hold a Dinner Concert at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts located at 6300 Fifth Ave. On Saturday, June 18, Tommy Parker will hold a community Music Industry workshop at AAMI, 7131 Hamilton Avenue in Homewood from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. He will be accompanied by other musicians including Jessica Lee, Roy Razika and Keith Moncrief.

The AAMI's Boys Choir has performed at festivals, churches, universities, civic affairs and social organizations throughout the metropolitan Pittsburgh Area. The Boys Choir toured and performed at Spellman College, (Atlanta, GA), St. Mark's Anglican Church, (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada), local churches in Milwaukee, WI and Six Flags Theme Park on the Great American Stage, (Gurnee, Il.). The Choir performed in Memphis, TN at the Civil Rights Museum and at Cannon Theatre in celebration of STAX Record's 50th Anniversary.

Proceeds from this year's concert will underwrite the costs for the Boys Choir Tour and performance at the 1st National Boys Choir, Invitational Convention at the University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, June 23-25, 2011. AAMI's Boys Choir will represent the City of Pittsburgh at the National Boys Choir competition.

A SHOUT OUT TO ALL YOUNG MEN WHO HAVE BEEN APART OF AAMI's BOYS' CHOIR

Please mail/email a brief personal biography for AAMI's Boys Choir Reunion Celebration. We would love to hear from you!

For more information, tickets or to donate to AAMI's Boys Choir Tour please contact AAMI at 412-241-6775 or visit us at www.afroamericanmusic.org.

**AAMI is a member agency of the United Way of Allegheny County -- Designation Code 927578**
###

Monday, June 13, 2011

Godfather of Soul James Brown Museum on Wheels Rolls into the AAMI



James Brown
Museum on Wheels
Afro American Music Institute
7131  Hamilton Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA  15208

Saturday, June 25  5PM
Free and Open to the Public


Fans of the late great Godfather of Soul can have a funky good time when the The James Brown Museum on Wheels rolls into the Afro American Music Institute on Saturday, June 25, 5 pm-8 pm.

This special Black Music Month celebration of the legacy and accomplishments of the "Hardest Working Man in Show Business" is free and open to the public, and will feature history, memorabilia, videos and first hand accounts from who knew the legendary performer. Memorabilia, provided by the James Brown Museum on Wheels includes vintage photographs, posters, 45 and LP covers, program books, James Brown replica outfit and cape, 1960s radio promo ads and much more.

Additional activities include a dance tribute to Soul Brother Number One, James Brown trivia contest, ticket giveaways for the Return of James Brown Tribute Concert on Saturday, July 9, 7 pm at the August Wilson Center performed by America's No. 1 James Brown Tribute Artist. Ty Stone honors the Godfather of Soul in a spectacular production as dazzling and elaborate as James' own performance.

The Saturday, June 25 special celebration, which includes free refreshments, is sponsored by Mon Media, Soul Pitt Media Group and Pittsburgh Next Generation of Music Legends.

Attendance is limited so RSVP is required.

For more information on this event or to purchase tickets for The Return of James Brown event, please contact Don Patterson at 412-377-4681 or at dantessoul@aol.com.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

AAMI Open House Celebrates Music Education and Entertainment




Afro American Music Institute

Open House

@ AAMI - 7131 Hamilton Ave Pittsburgh PA 15208

Saturday April 30th 1pm - 7pm

Sunday May 1st 2pm - 6pm

AAMI invites you to come visit our facilities. Come join us and celebrate our rich legacy of music education and entertainment. Have a tour, meet the founders, the faculty, the staff, the board members and youth and adult students. Come see the newly renovated loading dock which will serve as the multi purpose room for upcoming events, recitals, meetings, rental space and more!



Performance Schedule

Saturday April 30th 1:00pm - 3:00 pm

AAMI faculty and Youth Jazz Ensemble

4:00pm - 7:00pm - Smooth Groove Band

Sunday May 1st 2:00pm - 6:00pm

Sunday's Best Gospel Featuring Deryck Tines Mitchell and other surprise guest artist.



Held At

AAMI
7131 Hamilton Ave
Pittsburgh PA 15208





Dr. James & Pamela Johnson, Founders of AAMI



For more information call (412)-241-6775 or visit our website at http://www.afroamericanmusic.org/

Monday, April 4, 2011

An Evening with Ronnie Laws

Jazz Intervention


AAMI and Two Brothers Present

AN EVENING WITH RONNIE LAWS

@ August Wilson Center



Saturday, May 14, 2011
Show Starts at 6PM









FEATURING:

Ronnie Laws







ALSO PERFORMING:



Afro-American Music

Institute Youth Jazz Group



SPECIAL GUEST:




Eddie Baccus Jr.

Straight to the Point




GUEST MC:




Bob Allen

KDKA TV Reporter



HOSTED BY:



Donna Baxter

(CEO of Soul Pitt Media)





TICKETS:

You can purchase tickets via phone 412.394.3353

or online at www.ProArtsTickets.org



Tickets also available at Dorsey's and Stedeford's Record Shop

PRICES:

Balcony $32.50

Orchestra $42.50

VIP $47.50



~ PLUS ~





After Party at CJ's in the Strip



Ronnie Laws and Eddie Baccus, Jr.

will be in the house!

You don't want to miss this! Get your tickets today.

For more information call

412.719.4120

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Afro-American Music Institute Celebrates 28th Anniversary




Dr. James and Pamela Johnson, Founders of AAMI




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE




PITTSBURGH, PA (PittsburghNewsWire.com) -- The Afro-American Music Institute, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, providing systematic specialized Instrumental and vocal training in all styles of the African American music tradition, will be hosting its 28th Anniversary at the beautiful River's Club located downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday, March 26, 2011, starting at 6:00 pm.

The spectacular celebration will feature live music entertainment by AAMI's faculty, advanced students from our Jazz Youth Group, and special guest artists featuring Jazz artist Sean Jones, and popular rhythm and blues group "Smooth Groove." In addition to dancing the night away, the Chefs of the River's Club will be preparing a Soul Food Buffet menu.

The proceeds from the anniversary will benefit youth scholarship and programs at AAMI.

You don't want to miss this great celebration of AAMI's 28th years in the community!

Reservations are required. To RSVP or for additional information, please call (412) 241-6775.


MEDIA CONTACT:
Pam Jordon
Afro American Music Institute
7131 Hamilton Ave
Pittsburgh PA 15147
412-241-6775

www.AfroAmericanMusic.org
Jazz Artist, Sean Jones