LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – The West Virginia Music Hall of Fame (WVMHoF) presented its Music Career Counseling Program in Carnegie Hall’s Hamilton Auditorium to Greenbrier County High School students on May 2. The pilot for this innovative program – a “career day” for the music business – was funded by a 2015 Challenge America grant.
The Music Career Counseling outreach program introduces students to the many music/entertainment industry careers and lets them know these opportunities can enable them to remain in West Virginia. Greenbrier East and Greenbrier West High School students listened to presenters Michael Lipton, founder of the WV Music Hall of Fame, pianist Barbara Nissman, actor/director Cathey Sawyer, and Everette O’Flaherty, owner/operator of Swift Level Fine Meats. Students were also treated to performances by Nissman and Lipton joined by bass guitarist Ted Harrison.
The Music Career Counseling Program was created to help address the often-talked-about “brain drain” of West Virginia’s youth and the out-migration of its workforce. This problem is raised whenever there are discussions on how to stabilize the state’s lagging economy and decreasing population. Careers such as catering, audio/video engineers, event production, tech and stagehands, agents and management, photographers and writers, are all career options available in WV.
“We created the Music Career Counseling Program – essentially a career day for music and entertainment careers – to present students with job opportunities that even most teachers and guidance counselors are not aware of,” said Michael Lipton, director of The West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
“While leaving the state may be a necessity for some career paths, we feel strongly that, if you want to do something creative on your own, you will receive more help and support in West Virginia than in a larger area,” he added.
“I know a lot of people – including myself – who stayed in West Virginia because of the opportunities!”
Carnegie Hall WV is a member-driven nonprofit organization supported by individual contributions, grants, and fundraising efforts such as TOOT and The Carnegie Hall Gala. The Hall is located at 611 Church Street, Lewisburg, WV. For more information, please call 304-645-7917 or visit www.carnegiehallwv.org.
