SoundCheck is a band of select high school musicians and singers creating and performing music to fight for social justice. The students work with music educators, prominent singer-songwriters and anti-racist educators to develop original material that tackles racism, injustice and hate. The band regularly performs and facilitates workshops at regional schools using art and music as a catalyst to spark dialogue, action and awareness. Vocalists, poets, rappers, DJs and instrumentalists of all kinds are welcome. Reading music is not a requirement but is helpful. This ensemble is by audition only.
Brian Boyes is an award-winning educator, musician and composer. For over 25 years he has cultivated powerful and innovative learning experiences for students, supporting them to create and share original music + art. Brian is the founder and Creative Director of Soundcheck.
Stefanie Weigand (she/her) has served as President and Membership Chair of the VT chapter of ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) and as ACDA's Eastern Region Youth R&R Chair. She currently serves as the Chair of the NAfME Council for Choral Education. She enjoys working as a presenter, clinician, and guest conductor across the region and directs the Polaris Singers at Northern VT University - Johnson, where she also teaches musical theatre. Stefanie is the Director of Education with Music-COMP, a non-profit organization that promotes creativity and teaches composition to both students and teachers. Stefanie toured nationally with a Children’s Theatre Company and worked on stage and off as a performer, pit musician, and music director in New York. Since moving to Vermont, she has appeared as a vocalist, pianist, and music director for various organizations including TURNmusic, the Vermont Philharmonic, Stowe Theatre Guild, Lyric Theatre, Music-COMP, Apex Ensemble, the Green Mountain Mahler Festival, The Saturn People's Sound Collective, Burlington Civic Symphony Orchestra, the Green Mountain Opera Festival, and more.
This program is supported in part by the Vermont Community Foundation’s Spark Connecting Communities grant program.