The Hamilton-Garrett Center Honors Berklee Graduate Fred Woodard Jr.

Noted musician Fred Woodard Jr. is the recipient of the inaugural “Elta Garrett Educator of the Year” award, which was presented at the recent 20th anniversary celebration and “End of Year” Concert at the Hamilton Garrett Music & Arts Academy (HGMA) in Roxbury. The award commemorates Mrs. Garrett's devotion to the HGMA, and acknowledges the recipient's commitment to their work at Hamilton-Garrett and in their community. Woodard is the HGMA's longest serving instructor teaching guitar and is a graduate of Berklee College of Music. Mrs. Garrett, a noted vocalist and former Boston public school teacher, co-founded the school in collaboration with Ruth Hamilton and currently serves on the board.

As Hamilton-Garrett celebrates its 20th anniversary, in the Fall of 2022 it is expanding into the
Hamilton-Garrett Center for Music and Arts. In addition to the Academy and the HG Youth
Choir which will still operate within the Center, Hamilton- Garrett is excited to offer new
programs for youth and adults. These include the HG Ensemble, the Drumline, the Extension
Program, HG Master Classes, and the Adult Community Choir. More details about each program
can be found at hamiltongarrett.org.programs, alongside the online application form and
information on tuition and financial aid.

Reflecting on the plans for the Hamilton-Garrett to expand, Gerami Groover-Flores, who once
was a student at the academy and now serves as executive director, said: "It is an honor to have
been part of the Hamilton-Garrett Music and Arts Academy since I was a little girl in its
inaugural class, and to now serve as the program’s Executive Director. I look forward to
expanding the after-school program, the Academy, into the HGCMA, which will serve both
youth and adults within the greater Boston community. We also look forward to serving as an
institution that will bridge the gap between members of the community and the academics
through our partnerships with higher ed institutions, such as the Berklee College of Music
Center for Africana Studies."

The Hamilton-Garrett also is marking the centennial anniversary of its late co-founder Ruth
Hamilton who died in 2001. Hamilton and Elta Garrett founded the academy at Charles Street
AME Church. A world-renowned contralto mentored by Roland Hayes, Hamilton amplified the
power of spirituals in her repertoire.

About Hamilton-Garrett Music & Arts

Hamilton-Garrett Music & Arts is a non-profit affiliated with the Historic Charles Street AME Church in Roxbury. Focused on the preservation of Black music and its cultural heritage, the academy offers superb music instruction to the innovative young artists in the Greater Boston Area. Classes include voice, guitar, percussion, violin, music theory, history, Black musical tradition, culture, and more. The school also hosts a Visiting Artist Series. Partners include the Berklee College of Music. Check out some of the student performances here.

On June 10th, the Hamilton-Garrett Music & Arts Academy celebrated two decades of growth
with a free “End of Year “concert at the historic Charles Street A.M.E. Church in Roxbury.
Students and their Instructors, some of whom are from the Berklee College of Music, participated in the program which included the broad range of Black music and featured the Hamilton-Garrett Youth Choir, under the direction of Executive Director Gerami Groover-Flores, and is Boston’s premiere all-female youth choir. The concert concluded with the presentation of the inaugural “Elta Garrett Educator of the Year” award, which commemorates Mrs. Garrett's devotion to the HGMA, and acknowledges recipient's commitment to their work at Hamilton-Garrett and in their community. The 2022 Elta Garrett award was presented to Fred Woodard, who is the HGMA's longest serving instructor teaching guitar and is a graduate of Berklee College of Music.