Pop Music Academy of Stamford Ready for 4th Annual Showcase on Saturday

The Pop Music Academy of Stamford, Connecticut will hold its annual showcase and benefit concert this Saturday at the Westhill High School Auditorium.

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Since it was founded in 2012, the Academy has served as a valuable training ground for those who want to pursue a career in the music business, whether it is as a pop singer, session musician, or behind-the-scenes studio wizard. The school provides instruction in voice, instruments, songwriting, production and engineering, as well as classes on the industry.

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Past showcases have raised money for the Music Therapy Program at Stamford Hospital's Bennett Cancer Center. This year's event, though, will benefit Hope In Harmony, a non-profit started last year by Pop Music Academy owner and Artistic Director Christine Occhinno. "We thought it would be the next step to be able to do it ourselves and also to bring some of the kids and let them use their gifts to share with people," she explains.

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Hope In Harmony offers inspiration to those in the community's health care facilities in a variety of ways, from performing music bedside to sending out Traveling Teachers from the Academy who will help other patients read, write and play music, and even give them the opportunity to make their own recordings. The money raised from the concert will be used towards the charity's operational expenses along with musical instruments for the patients it helps.

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Saturday's show serves the dual purpose of highlighting the talents of the Academy's students, over forty of which will perform for an audience that will include several entertainment industry representatives. It will be hosted by Occhino (an accomplished singer in her own right) and jazz vocalist Richard "Cookie" Thomas. The band will consist of Academy instructors and veteran session musicians Aaron Staniulis (bass), Emma Borrie (keyboard), Sky Clark (guitar), and Jason Staniulis (drums). 

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The show begins at 7 p.m. Advance ticket prices start at $15 and may be purchased through the Pop Music Academy's website, at 203-322-4767, or at the school's location at 980 Hope St. on the second floor. Tickets bought at the door cost $25.