GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Tuesday night, Ottawa Hills High School hosted a ceremony to celebrate a new state-of-the-art music studio and program that started this school year.
Part of what makes the program so special is that it was created by an Ottawa Hills High School alum for Ottawa Hills High School students.
“So yeah we want to raise awareness to the students to let them know hey you are a part of a legacy, own it be proud of that and take it further," said musician and coach, Lucius B. Hoskins.
“I feel lucky, like to be able to have this experience…. Music is like everything to me like it's, you can express emotions through it. It's beautiful. You can do so much with this," said one of the Ottawa Hills High School students.
It’s an idea years in the making, a music program and state-of-the-art space for high school students to explore their musical talents and ambitions.
Lucius B. Hoskins is the company owner and coach behind the initiative. His goal with the program was to pay homage to the great musicians before him and to invest in future generations.
“The purpose of our of our program is to train the next generation of young music professionals. And so my goal is to make sure that some of the things that has happened to me in my industry or along my journey, that it doesn't happen to that it doesn't happen to them," said Hoskins.
He wanted to create a space for the love of music, entrepreneurship and creating multiple streams of income. Ottawa Hills has graduated some of the greats and perhaps this next generation will breed another. There was also a ribbon cutting Tuesday night to celebrate the program.
Music instructor Erik Love said this this program allows students to have a full musical experience.
“So here we have a bigger focus on that improvisation on that songwriting on that composition, which is a full important part of our art. I don't think we're necessarily getting too strong in our ensemble classes. And so to me, this feels like now with our drumline and our two choirs and our music production classes here at Ottawa, like we have a full music experience for a musical student to come here," said Love.
The program is about igniting a musical spark in students.
“For a kid, this is where they can express themselves, this is where they can, it's a free space, is a time where it's not so stressful. In my math class, I might be stressing or English, I might be stressing, but when I come here, I can be free, and I can express myself in a very creative way," said Hoskins.
The program has seen a rise in popularity among students. Instructors are now creating more music classes for next school year.
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