Mireya Ramos teams up with Latin GRAMMY In The Schools program to provide new instruments to KCK high school
Nannette Velez and Mireya Ramos (center) with J.C. Harmon students // Photo by Fernando Leon
On Tuesday morning, students, faculty, and staff gathered in J.C. Harmon High School’s auditorium in Kansas City, Kansas for the state’s first Latin GRAMMY In the Schools program.
Founded by the Latin Recording Academy in 2014, Latin GRAMMY In the Schools is an educational program that seeks to connect middle and high school music students to Latin professionals in the music industry, in addition to offering funding for under-resourced music departments.
The program also encourages students to pursue other careers within the industry like sound engineering, public relations, and social media.
“Latin music is at its peak right now. I’m so happy about this big boom in Latin music. There are so many talented artists that deserve to be heard,” says Nannette Velez, senior director of programs at the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation.
With the help of Ford Motor Company, Grammy award winning artist and founder of the all-women mariachi band Flor de Toloache, Mireya Ramos invested $40,000 into the school’s music department, including $20,000 worth of new instruments including guitars, drums, maracas, violins and congas. This is a huge help to their program, as they’ll be able to replace old instruments that aren’t functional.
The students were able to put the newly donated instruments to use during the program in performances with the jazz band and orchestra ensembles.
JC Harmon Orchestra performing onstage. // Photo by Fernando Leon
“We found a gem. There are so many talented students here, and the faculty and staff give their all to them every single day,” says Velez.
The program featured a conversation between Emmy award winning journalist Irasema Torres and Ramos, where Ramos shared about the importance of representation within the music industry and how she continues to adapt to changes within the music industry.
“Keeping in touch with new artists is a way of keeping current and listening to what they’re doing, and collaborating with them and getting to know their stories and how they live life now,” says Ramos. “We can meet in the middle and create together.”
Students were also able to participate in a Q&A session with Ramos and moderated by Torres. During the Q&A, Ramos gave students advice on how to get over nerves while on stage, let them in on her songwriting process, and shared her favorite things about performing.
“I hope they’re inspired to follow their dreams, whether it’s music or not and that they understand the magical experience that music is,” says Ramos. “Music brings happiness, joy, and it really changes people’s minds, hearts, and lives. Just to have access to these instruments is quite a gift.”
The event concluded with a lively and engaging performance by Ramos, showing students the results of where hard work and dedication can take them, as long as they keep practicing.
