BUFFALO, N.Y. — Black artists and musicians have shaped the music scene across the country and right here in Buffalo. This year, one local music school, founded by an African American violinist, is celebrating 25 years.
His name is Henri Star Muhammad. In the 25 years of making music, the Muhammad School of Music has had 10,000 students go through his program.
Muhammad teaches young African Americans how to play piano and string instruments, like the violin. Most of his students are from the inner-city but he also has students from Niagara Falls and surrounding suburbs like Toronto.
This is what Muhammad does as a profession, a passion, and a career, oftentimes practicing for more than four hours a day.
After Muhammad graduated from the University of Rochester, one of the top universities in the country for music, he wanted to come home and share his gift with others. To celebrate 25 years of making music, the school is honoring its students.
"One of the honorees is one of my former students, who actually was one of my very first students. 25 years ago, she would come to my kitchen and we would have violin lessons. She's now a doctor of Global Economics on the faculty at Dartmouth College, an ivy league school. So, she's gone on from starting the violin when she was 7 to such an elite status in academia. So, it's just an exciting experience watching the children grow up and become, you know, whatever it is that is their destiny," Muhammad said.
According to a study by the League of American Orchestras study, less than 2% of musicians are Black or Latino. So Muhammed created the Muhammed School of Music to change that.
Upcoming events:
Henri Star and the Muhammad School of Music Chamber Players in concert at Payton Violins and Fine Stringed Instruments in Rochester, NY on Sunday, March 17 at 2 p.m.
Henri Star and the Muhammad School of Music Chamber Players will open for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in the Mary Seaton Room of Kleinhans Music Hall on Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m.
The Muhammad School of Music 25th Anniversary Festival Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19 in Asbury Hall in Downtown Buffalo; featuring Henri Star and the Muhammad School of Music Chamber Orchestra performing the Beethoven Violin Concerto
If you'd like to support The Muhammad School of Music, you can donate to their GoFundMe page.