Benning Academy of Music seeks support for music education and training for the underserved.
The story of the Benning Academy of Music began many years ago when Hans and Nancy Benning began to travel from their home in Los Angeles to an orphanage for needy children in Baja, Mexico through Foundation for His Ministry (Cristo Por Su Mundo). A number of years later Nancy decided to share her love for music and began teaching the violin at the mission in Vicente Guerrero. In 1994 a young boy came to her door and wanted to learn to play the violin. Tito Quiroz soon became her best and most enthusiastic student. After moving to Ensenada with his family, he began teaching the violin in a rented garage. He, like his teacher, Nancy, decided that musical education should be taught with quality and excellence.
More than 20 years have passed since then and Tito's deep love for music and passion to share his gift have resulted in two music academies - one in Ensenada and the second in a newly-restored train station in Cuernavaca, Morelos. Between the two of them, more than 6,000 people of all ages are being blessed by a quality musical education and this gift is being taken to orphanages, rehab centers, prisons, convents, to children and adults with Asperger's Syndrome, Down Syndrome, and blindness, as well as senior facilities, schools for the disabled, and other places. These outreaches are under the name of Youth in Rhythm, (Juventud en Ritmo). Scholarships are given to those who otherwise would not be able to learn music, and instruments are provided free of cost to those who are willing to put in the time and effort.
Hundreds of children, youth, and adults receive individual and personalized education. Tito believes that nothing should limit the excellence in the fine arts and the academy's mission is to include every social class, creating an integral culture committed to society.
In Baja Tito won the 2015 Youth Prize of Mexico for the 94% reduction of inmates in the youth prison through his music program. Since then he has traveled all over Mexico sharing his love for music and encouraging children, youth, and adults to live lives of love, service, integrity, and austerity.
Within a few months we will be opening another Benning Academy of Music in the mission where it all began, in Vicente Guerrero, Foundation for His Ministry. We invite you to be part of the Benning family of music academies by supporting this worthy endeavor, and together we can reach hundreds of children in migrant camps and the children in the orphanage. We are a great family and we need you to donate as you are able to make this new academy a reality. We thank you in advance for any help you are able to give.
