Blog / Michigan Rock School Students Perform to Support Non-profit, Legacy Adoption Services
On Saturday, May 13, 2023 Michigan Rock School student rock bands performed for a fundraising event in support of Legacy Adoption Services (LAS). Coordinated by River’s Edge Brewery and LAS, the event featured live concert performances by Michigan Rock School students as a focal point. The family-friendly event, held inside the Suzanne Haskew Arts Center, The SHAC, raised over $28,000 for the nonprofit and built continued awareness about the need for the services offered through LAS.
“We try and provide these performance opportunities for students in part because they work hard throughout the year. But it is also great to impress upon them the importance of community service,” said John Kozicki, founder of Michigan Rock School. “Obviously we always teach music and performance, but when the kids understand that their talents can also contribute to a great cause, provide entertainment, and so much more, they start to realize the value of their talents can reach far beyond simply knowing how to play and instrument.”
The two Michigan Rock School groups that performed for Legacy Day – Radioactive Engine and Gravity Six. The kids in the group Radioactive Engine range in age from 10 to 12 years old. The band played set of rock songs including “I Hate Everything About You” by Three Days Grace, “Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps, “Scars” by Papa Roach, and “Seether” by Varuca Salt.
The members of Gravity Six, ages 14 to 17, performed a fantastic set of classic rock. The songs were “Barracuda” by Heart, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears, “18 and Life” by Skid Row, and “Crazy on You” by Heart. The live performances from both bands were the highlight of the event. A close second was the crowd cheering for Gravity Six singer, Rory, leaving the event to get to prom in full hair and makeup, wearing her prom dress!
As always with our rock bands, students worked independently in private lessons and at home to learn their parts for each song. Then each week bands had coached band rehearsals to work together and prepare for the live performance. The Legacy Day event came just a week after our student bands performed our end of session concert. So this was a rare occasion in which both Radioactive Engine and Gravity Six performed their live set two weekends in a row.
Legacy Day was a great experience for Michigan Rock School, and we hope to participate again in the future!