« Back to Main

Three teens to tune musical skill in Massachusetts

By sara patterson

Three Stax Music Academy students have been washing cars, working odd jobs and canvassing their neighborhoods to raise money for room and board at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., this summer.

Tasmine Ballentine, Ricardo Canady and Ashton Riker won full tuition scholarships in the amount of $4,000 to attend classes at Berklee from July 13 to August 14. They received the awards Saturday night before Stax students performed their annual Summer Grand Finale show at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.

"These three got it because they have been working very hard, been very focused and been with the academy for some time," said Tim Stampson, director of communications at Stax Music Academy. "They’ve learned there’s a big world out there."

The threesome will attend lectures on songwriting, music business and theory with 900 students from around the world. They also will take private lessons to sharpen their musical skills.

Tasmine Ballentine, 17, is a vocalist and rising senior at Central High School. The soprano sings R&B, gospel, pop and classical music. After graduating, she plans to pursue a singing career.

"I’m really excited to be around other musicians this summer," she said. "Not just sitting around wasting my talent, eating cereal and watching TV."

Ricardo Canady, 18, is a recent graduate of Central High School. The alto saxophonist has been a student at Stax Music Academy for six years and was a member of his high school’s Jazz Band. He has been accepted to Berklee and will soon be auditioning in hopes of a scholarship. He would like to major in music engineering, he said, and this will be his second year to receive a scholarship from Berklee for the summer program.

"I’ve learned that you’re never as good as you think you are," he said. "It’s very humbling, because the cats up there will blow you out of the water."

Ashton Riker, 18, is a recent graduate of Ridgeway High School. The tenor R&B singer attended the program with Canady last year. He released an album on iTunes and hopes to attend Berklee after a short touring stint, he said.

"Before a performance, I’m always nervous," he said. "As soon as I step on stage, I’m calm, relaxed, having so much fun."

Stax Music Academy is part of the Berklee City Music Network, in its third year to send students from Memphis to Boston for the summer. Stax Music Academy mentors youth, primarily those residing in the "Soulsville" ZIP codes of 38106 and 38126. About 20 students are enrolled at the Academy for the summer, said Stampson, and about 60 usually enroll during the school year. For more information visit staxmusicacademy.org. For donation inquiries call (901) 946-2535.

-- Sara Patterson: 529-2594

© 2009 Scripps Newspaper Group — Online