Memphis Music Initiative

Welcome to MMI’s Fellow Spotlight series featuring our amazing teaching artists. Not only do MMI Fellows lend their talents to supporting and engaging Memphis youth all over the city, but they also help build and sustain our arts ecosystem through their independent projects. Today, meet baritonist and all-around brass aficionado Marico Ray! As an MMI […]

Welcome to MMI’s Fellow Spotlight series featuring our amazing teaching artists. Not only do MMI Fellows lend their talents to supporting and engaging Memphis youth all over the city, but they also help build and sustain our arts ecosystem through their independent projects. Today, meet cellist Carrington Truehart! As an MMI Fellow, Carrington works with […]

Welcome to the fifth and final installment of MMI’s Emergency Relief Fund Artist Interview series! Today, MMI Works student intern Maya and Relief Fund recipient Aliyah chat about Aliyah’s musical work—an aria titled “opera nera: il retrogrado (Black Opera: The Retrograde).” The piece utilizes expressionistic techniques to highlight her experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. Aliyah’s […]

Welcome to the fourth installment of MMI’s Emergency Relief Fund Artist Interview series! Today, MMI Works student intern Andrea and Relief Fund recipient Jacquez chat about Jacquez’s art featuring a character called Dr. Stone, who makes a vaccine for the Covid-19 (represented as a monster). Jacquez’s art was commissioned through MMI’s 2020 Covid-19 Emergency Relief […]

In December, MMI hosted our first-ever virtual fundraising arts showcase, MMIxTape Live! It was an evening full of community, good vibes, and amazing art. Now, you can watch the show (minus headliner Cedric Burnside) on our brand-new YouTube channel! You can click the image to watch a shortened version of MMIxTape Live on YouTube. The […]

Welcome to the third installment of MMI’s Emergency Relief Fund Artist Interview series! Today, MMI Works student intern Jacolby and Relief Fund recipient Jasmine chat about Jasmine’s poem highlighting her perspective on living during a pandemic. Jasmine’s poem was commissioned through MMI’s 2020 Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund last May. Take a few moments to learn what inspired […]

Welcome to the second installment of MMI’s Emergency Relief Fund Artist Interview series! Today, MMI Works student intern Aa’liyah and Relief Fund recipient LaDarryl chat about LaDarryl’s song Thank You— a toast to the money and opportunities that have been lost to the pandemic, but that will return one day. Because “This time, like all […]

Welcome to the very first installment of MMI’s Emergency Relief Fund Artist Interview series! Today, MMI Works student intern Sydney and Relief Fund recipient Nadifah chat about the art series Nadifah created in response to the effects of self-isolation in quarantine. Nadifah’s series was commissioned through MMI’s 2020 Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund last May. Take […]

MMIxTape Live: Songs for the Future of Memphis Music is fast approaching! This morning, our Director of Grantmaking and Capacity Building, Rychetta Watkins, spent a few minutes chatting with Channel 3’s Live at 9 news team about Thursday’s event. She also shared insights about some of the pressing challenges Memphis’ arts community has faced in […]

Last night, our In-Schools program director, Lawrence Blackwell, appeared on Local 24 News via Zoom to chat about our work, our impact, and our upcoming fundraiser, MMIxTape Live. Click here to watch the full interview! Be sure to grab your tickets now for the December 10 event! It’s going to be an inspiring night full […]