LYNN — Strike up the band.
Thanks to a $5,000 grant the YMCA of Metro North have received from an organization called Music Drives Us, the kids who use the Lynn YMCA Music Studio Clubhouse have new instruments to play.
The founder of Music Drives Us is Ernie Boch Jr., who runs Boch Enterprises, which consists mainly of car dealerships.
However, Boch is also a musician who has performed with several local musicians, including Barry Goudreau and the late Sib Hashian of the former group Boston and with Brian Maes as well.
Established in 2011, the Music Studio Clubhouse is a free program for youth to get the opportunity to learn music performance and production. In addition to instruction in vocal performance, songwriting, guitar, piano, beat-making and music technology, the clubhouse also hosts a professional music studio complete with a control room, vocal booth and performance space. The clubhouse is open daily and has attracted more than 100 children to its music programming.
“I’m extremely proud to assist the Lynn YMCA Music Studio Clubhouse with new musical instruments for their members to practice and perform with,” said Boch. “Music makes an extraordinary impact on the lives of young people.”
“We are so excited to receive this grant from Music Drives Us. This is huge for us,” said Helder Tsinine, clubhouse director. “Having these instruments will allow my team to teach more students per class and allow for further progression for current students.”
Danielle LeBlanc, spokeswoman for YMCA Metro North, said Tsinine and others, in efforts to stretch the grant as far as possible, were able to buy ukuleles and other instruments to replace desperately-needed equipment.
The grant also enables Music Studio Clubhouse instructors to offer lessons to students at Y Academies preschool programs in other YMCA of Metro North locations.
The studio is due for a significant physical expansion in 2020, thanks to the construction of the new Lynn YMCA campus, which is slated to open in November.
