Americana Project expands through SOAR

SOAR Americana students perform. photo by Jim Mitchell The Americana Project is expanding to the elementary and middle schools after several years at Sisters High School. A step in that process is The Americana Project Summer Classes presented by SOAR (Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation).

Subtitled "Guitar, Songwriting, and the Creative Process" the classes are an extension of the Sisters Folk Festival Americana Project, bringing guitar instruction and songwriting to middle school students.

Last week students met each day to learn guitar playing and American roots music, and worked to understand songwriting as a form of self-expression.

On last Friday morning, July 2, Brad Tisdel, Americana Project director, joined students in an outdoor concert at Angeline's Bakery.

It was well attended by family, friends and the curious, including 25 SOAR preschoolers.

The presentations, created by the students, included a percussion piece and two vocals accompanied by percussion and guitars. The finale, "It's My Own Dang Fault," featured Austin Erlandson on the electric guitar and Shelby Ross on the saxophone.

Other performers were Parker Bennett, Marta Bryan, Loryn Cummins, Billy Sampson, and Skye Scott.

The next class is scheduled August 2-13 at Sisters Middle School. Call SOAR at 549-2091 for information or to register.