Blues SchoolHouse
Blues SchoolHouse traces the history, evolution, and impact of blues music, highlighting the role music plays in reflecting the human condition and driving social change.
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Blues Schoolhouse is an interactive, live musical presentation that traces the history of the blues from its roots in African musical traditions through its emergence as an American musical form. Participants see how people use music to tell their stories, preserve their memories and create a sense of community. The program weaves major historical events narrated across an American history timeline and demonstrates how music can reflect social conditions, drive social change and how African and African American music and cultural traditions influence the music enjoyed today.
Blues SchoolHouse reaches thousands of students annually through the generous support of Music Drives Us.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Boston Cultural Council, a local agency which is funded by the Mass Cultural Council, and administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.
Meet the Band
Ayeisha Mathis
Drummer
Ayeisha Mathis is a Boston native. At the tender age of 5 she fell in love with the drums and percussion. She quickly rose to become a sought-after drummer showing extraordinary talent and a promising future in music. Due to her musical success, as a teen she was invited to join the Zildjian and Vater families as an endorsed artist. Currently, Mathis is a Professor at Berklee College of Music.
John Wadkins
Keyboardist/Musical Director
John is an accomplished musician, piano teacher, and piano technician. As part of the Boston music scene, he has been playing a variety of musical styles for 25 years. After more than a decade with the Blues SchoolHouse Band, John continues to find joy in educating young people about the history of American music.
Katani Sumner
Vocalist/Narrator
Katani is one of the original MC’s of the Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues, is the featured lead vocalist for Gospel Night at the Pops, bandleader of “Katani & the Krew,” and has been a singer/songwriter and educator for over 25 years.
Roman Barten-Sherman
Guitarist
Roman Barten-Sherman has always been ensconced in the study and performance of social dance music from the American South. As a trans-woman in the blues world, Roman strives to spotlight traditional music from radical female guitarists. Roman’s guitar playing melds virtuosic Piedmont fingerstyle with the hypnotic grooves and stomps of the North Mississippi Hill Country.
Sympli Whitney
Vocalist/Narrator
In 2014 Sympli Whitney was featured on BET’s season finale of “Apollo Live” where she left the judges speechless and unable to compare her sound to any other. Her music just feels like home. She has graced the stage of several nationally known venues while curating powerful performances backed by a variety of internationally recognized musicians.
Zachary Rochester
Bassist
Zachary Rochester is a Boston-born musician and educator. Known as “Z-String,” Zachary has been performing professionally since the age of 16, and teaching music since 2008. While being a multi-instrumentalist, Zachary’s main instrument is the bass guitar, and he is well-versed in multiple styles.