Karyn Lawrence

Lawrence’s innovative teaching idea, “West African Music for All,” focuses on adding more instruments to Bryan Elementary’s collection so more students can experience authentic West African music. West African music programs are rare in most elementary schools, but because Lawrence trained with the Ghanaian master drummer and ethnomusicologist, Sowah Mensah, and has hosted a residency at the school for him, she now has an afterschool African Music Ensemble. The funds from the Voya Unsung Heroes grant will be used to purchase gyils and a brekete for her students to play. Gyils are handmade pentatonic xylophones, and a brekete is a double-headed drum with a deep sound. Students in the ensemble and throughout the school will benefit from this program for years to come.