Reno musicians raise money for schools

Monday, March 29, 2010 - 7:19 PM

Kung Fu Sophie, a local experimental folk/jazz singer and songwriter performed Friday at “Made in Reno,” a charity concert featuring 18 local acts. All of the proceeds from the event were donated to local high school music programs. Brian Bolton/Nevada Sagebrush

Michael Sion didn’t sit idly by and watch his sons play 40-year-old musical instruments in high school — he acted.

Sion, fed up with the lack of arts funding in Reno high schools, co-founded “Made in Reno” two years ago, a charity event for local high school arts.

“(Made in Reno) helps high school music students, gives exposure to our local working musicians young and old, boosts foot traffic in our downtown business district where the Knitting Factory is located – and of course treats the audience to an incredibly fresh, high-energy and bargain bill of live entertainment,” Sion said.

The show gathered 18 local comedy, music and poetry acts under one roof for $10, with all the money going to local high school music programs. Sion, emcee of the show, was “very gratified” by the large turnout.

“It was a near sellout with over 1,000 people,” Sion said of the show that included local comedy, music and poetry acts that raised $7,740 for local high school music programs. “That shows the grassroots community support for our public schools and our growing music scene.”

The show featured a fast-paced medley of artists, who performed three songs each. Musical genres, from mellow guitar by Kung Fu Sophie to spoken word poetry by Spoken Views to a performance by the Wooster High School Jazz Band were covered.

Acoustic pop-rocker Kate Cotter, who was one the many local musicians that performed, said she was excited to be part of the cause.

“It is just a win-win situation for everyone,” said Cotter, referring to the exposure the artists gained while raising money for the schools.

Sion’s sons Aaron Sion of Crush and Daniel Sion of Hopscotch Whiskey each spoke out on the need for more money for schools’ music programs. Daniel Sion, who used to play the trombone at Wooster, said that music needs to receive the same kind of attention and funding that football gets in order to keep students active in music. Younger brother Aaron Sion, guitarist for Crush and a junior in the Wooster music program, said there is a need for new equipment in the music program.

“We have been using stuff that has been there since the ‘70s,” Aaron Sion said.

The show, held at Studio on Fourth last year, provided the chance for local musicians to sell merchandise and give out free CDs.

The crowd ebbed and flowed with the style of each musician. It was not uncommon for one act to bring a certain section of people to life, followed by the next act touching a different group.

The area on front of the stage filled with people dancing and singing along to the songs. Farther back, members of the audience could order food or drinks from the bar and meet the musicians before and after their performances which gave the whole event a meet-and-greet feel.

Daniel Sion said he hopes the show will help get people interested in more local music and get people to seek out more shows.

“Check all the bulletin boards for flyers and go to all the basement shows around town; a lot of these guys rock harder than some of the stuff you see at these big stages,” Daniel Sion said.

Garrett Estrada can be reached at gestrada@nevadasagebrush.com.