by: Adrian Varnam

It would seem as if the call for more support of arts education in our nation’s public schools is as old as the schools themselves. Regardless of economic environment or even presidential administrations, the need for more arts funding is always a concern raised by those who understand its importance. But, unfortunately, in a time of near economic crisis, the allocation of more funding at a larger level just isn’t a reality. So one local organization decided to take measures into their own hands and make a real difference in the lives of their community this holiday season.

“I wanted to find a music program that was involved with children that was not only needy—they needed instruments and they needed money for their direction—but had kids who were skilled and actively trying to improve themselves,” Wilmington Unplugged organizer Billy Mellon says. This Saturday, December 19th, his monthly music series will host its second “Super Unplugged” concert at the WHQR gallery in downtown Wilmington. Proceeds from tickets sold will benefit the Williston Middle School music program.

“Originally, we wanted this Super Unplugged to be an opportunity to support the traditional causes this holiday season, like Toys for Tots or buying some needy family some clothes or shoes,” he says. “But then I thought that that was going to leave some kids out. So I thought to help a music program, and I just put it out there as a goal to provide instruments or money to be used within the program. That way we figured more children could use what we help provide for them.”

This kind of altruistic thinking is not new to those involved with Wilmington Unplugged. In fact, it’s becoming an important component of its Super Unplugged concerts, quarterly performances featuring some of the artists who have participated in the monthly showcases. Its first concert helped raise money for WHQR during their fall fund-raising drive, while future productions promise to do the same for other causes, says Jeff Reid, owner and publisher of the The Beat magazine. His local monthly arts publication co-sponsors each Unplugged event.

“The idea to tie in supporting a cause with each performance was kind of based upon the public radio program, etown, which has that same sort of approach,” he says. “It’s a live-music program and they take a cause every week and showcase it. And we really liked that, that grassroots approach. We just felt like it was a good way to mix music and community by showcasing both and we decided that we would try to do the same with Super Unplugged.”

So far, it has been a rousing success. So much so that the number of sponsors, benefactors and supporters of both the monthly series and the quarterly showcase continue to grow with each performance. In fact, this month’s Super Unplugged has already sold out of tickets. Mellon attributes it to not just the quality of the performers but the fact that proceeds are going to such an important cause for young local musicians this holiday season.

“The first Super Unplugged was such a success that I just called up people who went to the first one, told them what we were doing this month with the Williston music program, and they said ‘I’m there,’” he reveals. “We sold 60 tickets in less than three days.”

And the interest in supporting Super Unplugged comes from not just music lovers in Wilmington, but sponsors and donors from all around Southeastern North Carolina. Two in particular, Pam Graham-Wilson from Wilson Family Pharmacy in Wallace, NC, and Varno Musical Instrument Repair in Leland, are contributing by donating directly to the Williston Music Program. The latter is giving a brand-new trumpet to the school while Ms. Graham-Wilson is making a financial contribution. Her support, she says, comes not from a business perspective but from a personal one.

“We are very empathetic to the limited resources for music and the arts in the public schools,” she says. “We have two sons, one of whom is an athlete and the oldest is a musician-songwriter in Austin. The public schools our children attended never seemed to have the resources or commitment to music and the arts. [Our hope in supporting this is] for people to come and enjoy the great local talent we have here in the Wilmington area, and to encourage more individuals and businesses to support music and the arts.”

While those involved with producing Super Unplugged could have chosen any charitable cause to support this December, it was their love and support of music that made this connection a good fit. In fact, Reid draws a direct parallel between the success of Wilmington Unplugged today and the younger generation of musicians he and his partners are hoping to inspire.

“As most of us know, the arts get the least amount of any attention in terms of money, verses sports and things like that, and we just wanted people to realize that even though we’re out there banging on a guitar and singing that it is connected to these band programs,” he says. “A lot of professional musicians, me included, started in school music programs, and so we realize that it’s a nurturing environment, and we wanted to promote that and bring attention to that.”

Hopefully, through the efforts of Super Unplugged and its sponsors and supporters, that attention will make a difference in the lives of our young people.

“I think Billy [Mellon] said it best,” Ms. Graham-Wilson says. “There might be a Miles Davis out there who just needs the opportunity to learn and have access to an instrument. Imagine being the person who provided that opportunity.”

Although tickets are no longer available for the Super Unplugged concert on December 19th, readers can still make a contribution to the Williston music program this holiday season.

“If people want to contribute financially, they can make a check to Williston Middle School Band and mail it to the school [401 S. 10th Street, 28401] with attention to Gwen Wilson,” Williston music director Gwen Wilson says. “If people have instruments collecting dust, they can donate them to the school as well.”

For more information, please contact wilmington.unplugged@gmail.com or The Beat magazine at 910-793-3668.