Musicians’ program called off

The popular WiseJAMS program for young musicians has been cancelled for this fall.

Pro-Art announced Friday that the program, held at L.F. Addington Middle School in Wise and the Southwest Virginia Museum in Big Stone Gap, would not go on “in response to the Wise County Schools announcement of their plans to address the COVID-19 pandemic.”

WiseJAMS provides traditional mountain music instruction and cultural enrichment opportunities for third through eighth grade students in Wise, Pound, Big Stone Gap and Appalachia in an after-school setting.

“Since learning to play an instrument involves close contact between teachers and students, our staff feels that hosting the program at this time may jeopardize the health of our students, instructors, and their families,” organizers said.

If a child has a guitar, fiddle or banjo still checked out from the spring 2020 semester, Pro-Art or the museum will contact parents to make arrangements for the instruments.

WiseJAMS and Pro-Art hope to be able to return for the spring semester.

Questions? Contact pro-art@uvawise.edu or call 276/376-4520.