By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
A music instruction program born out of the tragic loss of a young life is coming to fruition in Decatur.
Connor Brite’s Wildflowers Program, with 11 Adams County students enrolled, will begin classes on Monday. The students will be given free introductory lessons for five months.
Six students will receive guitar lessons on Mondays and Thursdays, three will be given drum lessons on Thursdays, and two will get piano lessons on Tuesdays. The lessons will be given at the MERIT Center in a room rented by the Wildflowers board (see photo).
Each lesson will be for 30 minutes and all will be individual lessons; there are no group sessions.
Of the 11 students, four are from South Adams schools, four from St. Joseph Elementary in Decatur, and one each from Bellmont, Adams Central and Wyneken Memorial.
Applications were made available to all students in Adams County.
Students will be able to take home instruments for practice and will return them at the end of the five-month period. (Drummers will get a drum practice pad.)
Instructors are Teri Morningstar and Sydney Sanderson, guitar; Curt Rash, drums; and Debbie Christian, piano.
The board is seeking volunteers to sit in on the lessons in order that students will never be alone with an instructor. Anyone interested is asked to call Steph Brite, (260) 223-9789.
Board members are Jeff and Steph Brite, David and Allie (Brite) Hamel, Steve and Stacey Lee, Bob Corral, Tim and Jennifer Mendez, Madelene Montgomery, and Ike Mendez.
“Launching this program is all because of the generous people and businesses of Adams County who have supported us,” the board said in a statement.
The second annual benefit concert is scheduled for Saturday, June 10, from 5-11 p.m. on the Madison St. Plaza. There will be three performances, by Ethan Corral, School of Rock, and Good Night Gracie.
Connor Brite, the son of Jeff and Steph Brite, was one of three young Decatur killed by an impaired driver in Union County, Indiana, on June 7, 2020. Jordan Fuelling and Trevor Ortiz also were victims.