Music is Your Ali Student Accepted to Berklee School of Music

Most students who get accepted to the prestigious Berklee College of Music have been playing their instrument of choice for almost as long as they have been walking, but not 18-year-old Donovan Pennant – he just started guitar lessons in 2016! This tremendous accomplishment is something Donovan and his parents are very proud of, and they are quick to acknowledge the significance of the Music is Your Ali program.

“Donovan was late coming to music,” explained his mother Danyel Pennant. “But thanks to his lessons at Ali, he has grown so quickly.”

The Historic Ali Cultural Arts launched free music lessons to children ages 10 years old and up about two years ago. The Music is Your Ali program is offered thanks to a partnership with the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, which was formed by guitar legend Joe Bonamassa. Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation (KTBA) fuels the passion for music by funding programs and scholarships for students and teachers who possess the desire, but lack the resources or access to achieve their potential within the music industry. Through generous corporate sponsorships by industry powerhouses Ernie Ball Strings, Guitar Center, J&R Adventures, and donors, KTBA has been able to fund music projects affecting more than 30,000 students since 2013.

“I am so grateful to this program,” said Donovan. “When we moved to the area a few year ago, I took guitar lessons at my high school. I really enjoyed it and started to learn more on my own. But then, my mom found this program and it has taught me so much!”

Donovan is taught by Juan Santiago on a weekly basis at Ali. During these lessons, Juan has coached Donovan to a new level of playing excellence through varied exercises and by expanding his song choices.”

“Though these lessons I have enhanced my proficiency; learning techniques I had never even imagined,” continued Donovan. “Juan is such a patient teacher, I am so grateful for his support.”

Donovan was also able to take advantage of a rare opportunity provided by this program to meet three guitar legends while on tour in the area. Donovan posed for photos with Joe Satriani, John Petrucci and Phil Collen, toured backstage the night of their concert and got great seats for the show.

“That was an absolutely amazing experience, and one my Dad and I will never forget,” he continued.

“Donovan is a wonderful example of the caliber of students we aim to nurture through these community-based programs such as Music is Your Ali,” said Shawn Hagood, Director of Funding at Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation. “We want young musicians to believe in them selves and to invest in themselves by using the gift of instrumental music to broaden their perspective of life - creating opportunities for themselves that would not have been possible otherwise. Music is Your Ali was formed as a way to motivate aspiring young musicians in the local Pompano Beach community by providing free access to musical instruments and music instruction. We are sincerely thrilled to witness a young man take advantage of this opportunity and take it to the next level!”

Thanks to these lessons and experiences, Donovan is planning a career in music. While he has been accepted to Berklee, his attendance is predicated upon his receiving scholarships to alleviate the tuition costs. If he is unable to make that dream come true, he will seek Berklee trained teachers at local colleges such as Florida Atlantic University or Florida International University.

To date, $500,000 has been donated to the preservation of music education in schools. The Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation has affected 60,000 music students in over 350 music classrooms.

The Music is Your Ali program is offered on Saturdays in various disciplines including guitar, piano and now drums! Please call the Historic Ali Cultural Arts at 954.786.7877 or visit aliarts.org for more information about specific class times.