SoundCheck: Youth Social Justice Band

About

The Flynn is proud to partner with Brian Boyes and Savi Ed Labs to offer SoundCheck. 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 high 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.

TEACHING ARTIST: BRIAN BOYES

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. 

VOCAL COACH: STEFANIE WEIGAND 

Stefanie Weigand (she/her) currently serves as the Chair of the NAfME Council for Choral Education. In the past, she 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 enjoys working as a presenter, clinician, and guest conductor across the region and directs the Catamount Singers at the University of Vermont, where she is also on the voice faculty. Stefanie is the Executive Director of Music-COMP, a non-profit organization that promotes creativity and teaches composition to both students and teachers. While teaching grade 7-12 music at Harwood Union MS/HS, she was the 2014 recipient of the VMEA’s Outstanding New Music Educator Award and received a Masters of Music Education from Castleton University. After completing her BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College, 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, Apex Ensemble, the Green Mountain Mahler Festival, The Champlain Philharmonic, Burlington Civic Symphony Orchestra, the Green Mountain Opera Festival, and more. Stefanie’s work as a studio vocalist can also be heard on a number of albums released through Lane Gibson studios, Lovetown Recording, and Tank Recording Studio, including the recent release of The Saturn People’s Sound Collective self-titled album. Learn more at www.stefanieweigand.net.