Students to help launch Dreamer project – Daily Gazette – 10.12.09
AMSTERDAM
Students to help launch Dreamer project
School chosen to test tour format
BY JESSICA HARDING
Gazette Reporter
Amsterdam High school students will get a break in their school day Wednesday to see a performance by a Boston-based band.
Thirteen Yards to Victory is planning to travel the country in 2010 promoting their I’m an American Dreamer project, which is raising money for art and music education programs.
The band’s I’m an American Dreamer project has been endorsed by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, who wrote a personal message to the band members two weeks before his death. Kennedy wrote that the project “demonstrates the band’s strong commitment to helping America solve its most pressing challenges by putting their talents to work for communities across the country.”
District officials hope the students are inspired by the work being done by their peers. The five band members in Thirteen Yards to Victory are all between 18 and 22 years old. “This group and what they are doing is unique,” Stephanie Boice, district music curriculum leader, said. “It’ll be interesting to see how it all works out with the kids. The band members can relate to high school students. Most of them were there not that long ago.”
Thirteen Yards to Victory performs a mix of alternative rock and pop with a “bit of an edge,” guitarist and vocalist Vinny Prezioso, 20, said.
The idea for the I’m an American Dreamer project formed while the band was recording their most recent album.
“While we were recording our EP a lot happened in the economy, so we were doing an event in September which raised gifts to help those who recently lost their jobs to help our community and we decided that we wanted to do something with our music,” Prezioso said. “We want to be more than a band, we want to start a movement.”
Band members decided to raise money for art and music education programs throughout the country. The I’m an American Dreamer project is a fundraiser and a contest. Anyone who purchases the band’s album online is able to submit any piece of art, a poem, dance, song, or drawing, that depicts them as an American dreamer. The band will pick one winner per state and that winner decides which school district will get the money raised in their state.
Band manager Fred Balboni said he hopes entire schools and community groups will become involved with the I’m an American Dreamer project.
“When there is negativity in your life and things aren’t going so well, turn it around and put a positive spin on it,” Prezioso said.
The band was invited to Amsterdam by Greater Amsterdam School Board President Gina DeRossi, who does work for Balboni’s communications company in his Albany office.
Balboni said he thought it was a good idea given the strength of the district’s music, art and performing arts programs. The band members are expecting to also spend the day Thursday with music students to talk about their journey and answer questions.
The band has chosen Amsterdam High School as a place to test their show format and their interactions with community members.
“It’s almost like a preview of what will happen when the guys actually begin to visit as many states as possible in 2010,” Balboni said.
Reach Gazette reporter Jessica Harding at 843-2830 or jharding@dailygazette.net.
We are proud of Thirteen Yards to Victory that is planning to travel the country in 2010 promoting their I’m an American Dreamer project, which is raising money for art and music education programs.Thanks for sharing the info.