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.
SPRING 2025
Announcement
Beginning in February, WiseJAMS will offer classes in Wise and Big Stone Gap, VA! The semester will start Wednesday, February 26th at L.F. Addington and Thursday, February 27th at the Southwest Virginia Museum. Classes take place from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., arrival times for students will start at 3:15 p.m.
WiseJAMS provides traditional mountain music instruction and cultural enrichment opportunities for students in 3rd grade and up in Wise, Pound, Big Stone Gap, and Appalachia in an after-school setting.
JAMS - 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.
JAMS - Big Stone Gap takes place at the Southwest Virginia Museum and Historical State Park and serves students attending Union Primary and Middle.
Program cost is $15 per lesson, or $150 for the 12-week semester if paid in advance*. Full and partial scholarships are available for those in need, please speak with your site coordinator to inquire further.
*This only applies to students at L.F. Addington site.
To register a student for a WiseJAMS program, please fill and submit the registration form below by February 26th, 2025. If your student needs to borrow an instrument, please fill and submit the instrument loan agreement below by February 26th, 2025. [Rolling admission is expected for this semester, but if you are interested register soon!]
If you have questions, please reach out to the appropriate site coordinator:
Southwest Virginia Museum - Big Stone Gap
Gretchen Cope - (276) 523-1322 or gretchen.cope@dcr.virginia.gov
L.F. Addington - Wise
Abby Presley - (276) 202-6739 or adj4m@uvawise.edu
Ian Frazier Ostrander (Pro-Art Association) (276) 376-4882 or iostrander@uvawise.edu
Dickenson County/Communities in Schools - Clintwood
Chris Rose Scholarship
A Fundraiser in Memorial of Chris Rose benefiting Mountain Empire Community College's Mountain Music School and SWVA's Junior Appalachian Musicians programs.
Big Stone Gap native Chris Rose was all but born with a guitar in his hand. Even before he graduated from Powell Valley High School in 1985, Chris was playing the local music scene. By his mid-20s, he gained wider fame with a feat that was never duplicated.
Chris won the Tri-Cities regional guitar competitive, Guitar Wars, three times and was asked not to compete again because it was unfair to the other competitors. Later, he went on to compete in and win a guitar competition sponsored by the legendary rock group Van Halen. The win came with a potential contract offer for an up-and-coming band. However, those plans were set aside as he chose to stay close to home and attend to family matters.
But more than the awards and trophies, bright lights, and the stage, Chris loved the behind-the-scenes job of teaching. Chris was a longtime instructor at both Mountain Empire Community College's Mountain Music School and the Governor's School. Chris began teaching in the early 1990s at Millard Edwards' in Coeburn. From there, he went to Juste Music and was the until the store closed. However, the doors continued to open for Chris, and he was able to continue doing what he loved by teaching at both MECC and the University of Virginia's Wise campus until his sudden passing in November 2023. During his last year at UVa-Wise, Chris had the American Idol contestant Aidan Bowman and Tennessee Songwriters Week finalist Claire Childress, known locally as part of the Childress Sisters, as part of his bluegrass ensemble class.
Even while teaching others, Chris never stopped playing himself. Chris continued to play in the band Major Change into the late 90s. Chris played alongside "Little Boy Blue" Jimmy Simpler for almost 30 years, whose Alabama blues and classic rock vocals complemented Chris' guitar perfectly. Later, Chris played and recorded with Richard Phillips and Friends, founded by former MECC president Richard Phillips. Chris also played around the region with a local crowd favorite, Cody Mabe. CHris also played the local scene with Little Black Mountain Band. However, some of his favorite times on stage came with the band Soul's Journey, a multi-church praise band.
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.
