WiseJAMS
WiseJAMS is an after-school music education program developed in partnership with Junior Appalachian Musicians. The primary goal of WiseJAMS to provide instruction in string instruments in the traditional old-time style to students throughout the region, many of whom are economically disadvantaged and underserved with regards to the arts.
WiseJAMS also strives to encourage the preservation of the artistic heritage of the region by providing experience with traditional Appalachian music and culture.
WiseJAMS is funded and supported by Pro-Art, the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park, Wise County, the Town of Big Stone Gap, Wise County Schools, the Wayne C. Henderson Grant, Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc., The Crooked Road, and the Thomas C. Estep Scholarship Program.
FALL 2022
Announcement
WiseJAMS provides traditional mountain music instruction and cultural enrichment opportunities for 3rd through 8th grade students in Wise, Pound, Big Stone Gap, and Appalachia in an after-school setting. After two years of virtual instruction, we are happy to announce that WiseJAMS will be held in person again for the Fall 2022 semester. WiseJAMS-Wise takes place at L.F. Addington Middle School and serves students attending L.F. Addington, Wise Primary, and J.W. Adams Combined School in Pound. WiseJAMS-Big Stone Gap takes place at the Southwest Virginia Museum and Historical State Park and serves students attending Union Primary and Middle.
The WiseJAMS-Wise program will offer 13 lessons on Wednesdays from 3:45pm - 5:45pm beginning September 7th, 2022 and ending on December 7th, 2022. There will NOT be a lesson on Wednesday, November 23rd due to Thanksgiving break. Program cost is $10 per lesson, or $100 for the 13-week semester if paid in advance. Full and partial scholarships are available for those in need.
To register a student for the WiseJAMS-Wise program, please fill and submit the registration form below by September 2nd, 2022. If your student needs to borrow an instrument, please fill and submit the instrument loan agreement below by September 2nd, 2022.
If you have questions, please reach out to WiseJAMS-Wise Site Coordinator Lloyd Tomlinson via email at ltomlinson@uvawise.edu or at (276) 376-4882. For more information and to register for the WiseJAMS-Big Stone Gap program, please contact Doretha Cole at (276) 523-1322 or doretha.cole@dcr.virginia.gov.
Thomas C. Estep Scholarship Program
The Thomas C. Estep Scholarship for WiseJAMS students was established in 2019 by his family in remembrance of the young musician. Thomas was a gifted guitar player with a big heart and his family hopes to carry on Thomas’ love of teaching and acoustic guitar by establishing this scholarship. Each semester, funds in the scholarship will be to pay the tuition for students who would otherwise not be able to participate in the after-school program.
Thomas was the lead guitar player for the contemporary Christian Band “This is the Day” with youth minister Kelly Fleming. The band won the VA-KY District Fair band competition in 2015.
Thomas was just 21 years old when he was killed in a head-on collision in Russell County, Virginia, in the early morning hours of New Year's Day, 2017.
Several have described Thomas as a selfless gentleman. His good friend and up-and-coming country singer Kaitlyn Baker said in a written statement, "My heart is broken…. Last night, my guitar player, my best friend — was killed in a car wreck. Tom was one of the best people I’ve ever known. He would give the shirt off of his back to anyone . I’ve witnessed many times where he gave money to people in need, helped young children by encouraging them to reach their dreams, and bringing such positivity into people’s lives."
Pro-Art and WiseJAMS are proud to help honor Thomas’ memory. If you would like to contribute to the Scholarship, we will gladly put your donation to work.
Please send checks Pro-Art, PO Box 179, Wise, VA 24279 and note in the memo area that the donation is for the Thomas Estep Scholarship.
