Fourteen Years of Harmony

What began 14 years ago as a vision to spark change and amplify the importance of music education has become a mainstay of Patrick Henry High School and a beloved tradition across Roanoke City Public Schools. Founded in 2011 by then-student Scholar Locher Grove and educator Scholar Nicole Doherty, Noteworthy emerged with a clear mission: to connect young people passionate about music to vital resources and raise funds to purchase instruments for elementary school students.

Today, the Noteworthy Music Festival continues as a vibrant annual event organized by a dedicated team of high school students and supported by a committed community of educators, families, and local music lovers. At its heart remains a shared belief in the power of collective community action and the transformative joy of music with an emphasis on the importance of music education for elementary students.

This year’s festival planning was led by co-presidents Mary Clarke and Blair Moon, alongside their Social Media Liaison, Caroline Reichardt, all seniors who each have a passion for music education and have been a part of Noteworthy for most of their high school career. When asked where their passion started, Mary shared, I went to an elementary school that has a great music program, and it inspired my love of music at an early age because we had those resources to explore, and I know that other students in Roanoke City Public Schools don’t always have that.” Blair agreed and shared, “When I was young, I remember music was monumental to the person I am today and the way I view things, how I experience life, and what I choose to do in the future.”

The trio began organizing early, aiming to exceed previous fundraising records and engage a larger audience at their one-day music festival hosted in Patrick Henry High School’s auditorium. Together, they built a team of more than 20 student leaders who met weekly to organize awareness events, host school-wide fundraisers, and build relationships with this year’s beneficiary, Morningside Elementary.

The day of the festival was alive with energy and purpose. Noteworthy team members set up bake sales and donation tables; the high school jazz band conducted their sound check in the auditorium, and community members filled the foyer with eager anticipation. Students from Morningside Elementary arrived with their music teacher, ready to take the stage. Their performance, centered around the theme of “happy,” a word they chose to describe how they felt being selected as this year’s recipient, brought smiles and applause from the crowd.

For educator Nicole Doherty, who has remained committed to the Community Change Project since its inception, the continued evolution of the project is deeply meaningful. Noteworthy has now supported nearly every elementary school in the district with new instruments and music programming. “One of the most rewarding, full-circle moments,” Nicole shared, “is that our current high school leaders once received these instruments as elementary students. Now, they’re paying it forward by joining Noteworthy or performing in the festival.”

Mary and Blair’s connection to Noteworthy runs deep. For Blair, growing up in a family that valued the arts and music helped shape her identity and inspired her aspirations for college and beyond. Mary fondly remembered her own elementary school music classes and felt a strong desire to give other young students the same joyful opportunity. Both leaders reflected with pride on the inclusive, collaborative team they built, a team where new members felt welcomed and their ideas were heard. They also embraced creative and unique fundraising strategies that not only met their goals but brought their school community together in meaningful ways.

By the festival’s end, the Noteworthy team joyfully announced that they had surpassed their fundraising goal, raising over $3,000 for Morningside Elementary. Their efforts are a shining example of civic engagement and youth leadership in action.

As Noteworthy heads into its 15th year, Mary, Blair, and Caroline are passing the baton to next year’s student leaders: London Wiser, Frances Livingston and Michelle Gonzalez-Hernandez. The new team plans to expand their fundraising reach, engage the broader Roanoke music and arts community, and deepen their impact with the next selected elementary school. They also look forward to connecting with peers across the Bezos Scholars Program Continuing Community Change Project Network, sharing best practices, and continuing to inspire change, one note at a time.