CAROLINA MUSIC WAYS (CMW) is a 501(c)3, tax-exempt, non-profit arts-in-education organization based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Our mission is to “engage students in North Carolina’s music traditions, to educate them about iconic musicians and their connections to history, and to preserve North Carolina musical heritage.”

Carolina Music Ways benefits school children. Our school show, Carolina Live!—Our Musical History, and related classroom lessons bring history to life through North Carolina music, inspire passion for a variety of music, and celebrate North Carolina's music heritage.

 

Our K-12 Social Studies lessons about the pioneering R&B group from Winston-Salem, the “5” Royales, teach students about the foundations of rock and roll, as well as about important local, state, and national history.

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WHO WE ARE

A dedicated Board of Directors governs Carolina Music Ways. Please click here for a list of CMW board members.
 

Board members are grateful to the Wells Fargo Arts-in-Education Grant from the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County for supporting Carolina Music Ways programs in the schools.

Matt Kendrick, Musical Director, is in charge of all musical aspects of our school show. A double bassist and composer, Kendrick is one of North Carolina’s most respected jazz artists. A two-time recipient of the North Carolina Jazz Fellowship, he received jazz and classical training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the University of Tennessee. Until recently, he taught music at Wake Forest University.

Elizabeth Carlson, Ed.M., Educational Director, writes our school show script and curriculum. She is an elementary school educator who has taught at many grade levels. She researches the music history of North Carolina and is the author of North Carolina String Music Masters: Old-time and Bluegrass Legends.

Jo Daniels, Technical Director, is in charge of all audio/visual aspects of our school show. Mr. Daniels is the CEO of Vision Digital Projects, a production company specializing in live music and theater productions. He is also a performing musician with years of experience in music production and recording.

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WHERE WE'VE BEEN

In 2003, Carolina Music Ways began as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Board members included musicians, educators, and local historians who immersed themselves in researching North Carolina’s musical heritage, with a focus on the northwest Piedmont region.

After a number of years, CMW presented its research to the public via an extensive web site, which served as a North Carolina cultural tourism resource. In 2008, CMW produced the CD All Roads Lead Home featuring a variety of area music styles and musicians.

In 2009, CMW’s Board of Directors enthusiastically decided the organization would focus on educating North Carolina school children about their state’s distinguished musical heritage. In 2010, CMW created its own musical revue on this topic for school assemblies they titled the Old Timey Radio Show. The show and related curriculum piloted that same year to enthusiastic audiences of students, teachers, and principals. In 2015, Carolina Music Ways changed the show’s name to Carolina Live!—Our Musical History to better reflect the show’s focus.