Our History
In 1992, John Hornsby and other area musicians began exploring the idea of creating a community organization where middle and high school students could engage in music-making opportunities each day after school. This exploration was driven by the strong belief of MRC’s founders that fewer students would get in trouble after school if there were productive, high-interest activities such as music-making in which to engage. In 1993, Mr. Hornsby began conducting focus groups among local school students to see if the idea of a local music resource center would appeal to students and if they would help make the organization successful. The response from students was overwhelming. 92% of the 400 students surveyed indicated that they wanted the facility set up and on average, the students indicated they would use the facility two or three times a week.
On June 17, 1995, we opened our doors and streams of students began coming to the center each day. Local musicians donated instruments, equipment, and time to volunteer and mentor the students. The first CD of music produced at the center was released in 1995. Entitled “Urban Phlavors,” it featured original music of MRC students, and the work of other members who helped with the audio engineering of the CD.
Our original home was the Charlottesville recording studio of the Dave Matthews Band. When the Band began widespread national tours in 1994-1995, they vacated the space to allow for the start-up of MRC, donating equipment, instruments and an outfitted recording studio. The Band members, all of whom are on MRC’s Advisory Board, continue to support the Center and periodically visit the students. Entertainment Weekly featured a cover story of the Band visiting the Center in 2005, and the Band talked about their role in supporting MRC on the Today Show in 2004. Students have also been privileged to meet music legends such as Trey Anastasio of Phish, Peter Frampton, and Adam Duritz of Counting Crows. In 2009, MRC helped open the doors of MRC-Cincinnati, where Peter Frampton, a native of Cincinnati, sits on the Advisory Board.
John Hornsby and Ivan Orr led the music-making efforts at the center for many years. Mr. Hornsby, who has written songs for his brother, Bruce Hornsby, and for other nationally acclaimed artists such as Huey Lewis and Willie Nelson, not only mentored musicians at the center every day, but also provided daily oversight of all of our administrative needs. We continue to rely on the generous contributions of area musicians, who regularly share their teaching skills and time and energy during everyday operations to help the next generation of musicians develop their skills.
