Common Ground Academy of the Arts Launches in Tampa
Common Ground Academy of the Arts launched at Common Ground Christian Church in Tampa, offering music instruction under trombonist and jazz musician Stan Wilkerson. The academy combines arts education with opportunities for students to use music in worship and plans to expand into additional art forms.
- Students may take private or group lessons in piano, guitar, drums, woodwinds, and brass.
- Older students can participate in jazz combos, ensembles, and recitals.
- Future plans include dance, drama, visual art, spoken word, and recording arts programs.
By Jennifer Taylor
Trombonist and jazz musician Stan Wilkerson has played with Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin. This fall he’ll be leading the Academy of the Arts at Common Ground Christian Church (Tampa, FL).
Music, Worship, and the Arts at Common Ground
Common Ground launched the academy this fall to provide lessons in piano, guitar, drums, woodwinds, and brass. Students may choose private or group lessons at reasonable prices, and older students also receive opportunities to play in jazz combos, ensembles, and recitals.
The academy also emphasizes music as worship; students may share their music as part of weekend services at Common Ground.
“We are excited to invite our community and friends to pioneer a new adventure into the arts,” says Common Ground lead pastor Danny Schaffner. “No other medium transcends culture and life as music can.”
Wilkerson says future plans for the academy include development of dance, drama, visual art, spoken word, and recording arts programs.
