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ABOUT

The First Friday Club gives you an exciting new opportunity to get involved with young music students around San Diego. Budget cuts in our school system have forced many public schools to abandon music classes. Unfortunately, this means thousands of students no longer have access to the enrichment these classes offer. Director of the First Friday Club, bassist Glen Fisher and the musicians of the Gomango Invasion are working within this community to creatively supplement the lack of music in the schools. By creating venues for kids to perform, teaching private lessons, and coaching rock, jazz, and blues bands from ages 6 and up, we are helping hundreds of kids realize their potential as musical artists. We believe that performance experience and the preparation involved in a ‘gig’ create one of the best learning experiences. The benefits are various. The kids not only continue to experience the joy of playing an instrument and performing onstage, but also learn how to present themselves in front of people, work as a team, act responsibly, and communicate well. They also acquire a soulful musical foundation and an understanding of different styles of music and cultures.  Your donation will rock a kids world! 

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BIO 

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Glen Fisher, Founder of FFMC, has worked as a bassist, composer, arts education consultant, and musical director all over Europe, South-America, and USA for the past 20 years. He has been tagged 'the poster child of versatility' by KSDS Jazz 88.3FM. At 42, he's a veteran band leader and musical director, and a virtuoso sideman as well. Fluent in four languages, he teaches and composes in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. Glen studied at the University of California at San Diego and the Vienna Academy of Music in Austria.


Bassist:
Steve Gadd, Graham Nash, Eartha Kitt, Nel Carter, Jay McShann, James Moody, Red Holloway, Charles McPherson, Bobby Shew, Jackie King, Jason Scheff, The Drifters, Mato Grosso, Hannibal Means, Yes Brasil, Steve Lacy, Sigi Finkel, Allegre Correia, Glen Fisher Trio, Con Alma, Gomango Invasion Orchestra, Arvella, Fish and the Seaweeds, Earl Thomas, Sergei Dreznin, Benjamin Schmidt, Jimmy Mulidore, Tom Scott, Brian Lynch, Rob Mullins Trio, Delfeayo Marsalis.

Artistic Consultant:
San Diego City Schools, San Diego Youth and Community Services(SDYCS)Humphrey's, Urban League, Scripps Cancer Research, Imperial Beach Film Festival, Quail Botanical Gardens, ARTS (A Reason To Survive).  Glen started a music programs for the SDYCS Storefront Shelter for Homeless Teens and PhotoCharity (501c3), and was the Performance Coordinator for Blues In The Schools (Blues Lovers United San Diego, (501c3) which is an affiliate of the National Blues Foundation.
Glen brought KSDS 88.3 FM and the San Diego City Schools together to bring Wynton Marsalis' incredible new jazz curriculum called Lincoln Center's Jazz for Young People to San Diego's schools.

Composer:
CBS Movie of the Week, Time Warner, Pepto-Bismol, KSDS 88.3 FM, City of San Diego, Radio 1310AM- B.C. Mexico, KUSI TV-San Diego, Arnold Schwarzenegger, KPBS, San Diego Youth and Community Services, Parallax Films, Goodnight Kiss Publishing, Scene Stealer Publishing

Awards:
1993 San Diego Music Award as Musical Director w/Earl Thomas, 1994 San Diego Music Award as Musical Director w/Josias dos Santos, 1994 & 1998 Jim Croce Award, 1995 &1997 Tijuana, Cultural Center Recognition in Music, 2002 Just Plain Folks finalist.

Various:
Founder of the FIRST FRIDAY MUSIC CLUB, INC. (501c3), Co-host of the KSDS 88.3 FM weekly show Touchin Bass, Frequent arts expert for the Reader and KUSI TV, Elected to the Peninsula Community Planning Board 2004

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WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING AND PLANS FOR 2022
  • Coaching Correia Middle School & Point Loma High School Guitar classes & CMS Jazz Band 4+ hours a week, more as needed- cost for one school year $13,100.00 
  • Jazz Workshop with Artist in Residence Craig Klein from New Orleans at Correia Middle School & MBHS 4/3-4/7- cost $11,500
  • Playing at various fundraisers and public events- cost depends on event
  • We sponsor students lessons- cost  $500/month 
  • Professional musicians and students performing at local venues - cost varies approx. $650/event

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The First Friday Music Club in 2013

The First Friday Music Club had a great 2013 thanks to many people and organizations. First, we would like to thank all the parents (and grandparents) who put in many hours bringing the kids to performances, rehearsals, lessons, etc. and are an ongoing source of donations. We also would like to thank the students for their tireless effort in becoming better, showing up for all the events with enthusiasm (also thanks to the parents), and doing their best. Without all of you, with your generosity and love of music, there would be no First Friday Music Club!

Who made it all possible through GRANTS & DONATIONS:  

  • The Hervey Family through The San Diego Foundation
  •  The Reuben H. Fleet Fund at The San Diego Foundation (initiated by Lori Fleet)
  •  Point Loma Foundation (Summer Concerts & Auditions; PLA Dinner)
  •  Correia Instrumental Music Association (CIMA)
  • Carl & Gayle Nuffer
  • Sandra & Chuck Eggers
  •  Kerry & Christina McKay
  • St. Peter’s by the Sea Lutheran Church
  • Nazarene University
  • NTC Foundation
  • Molly Allen
  • Gretchen Magers
  • Michael Kirsch
  • Don & Janice Albares
  • Anonymous donor
  • Parents, grandparents, relatives, friends & fans!!!

Other donations of THINGS, TIME & SPACE we couldn’t have done without:

  • Humphreys Backstage Live
  • Bayside Bar & Grill
  • Pete’s Grill
  • Point Break Cafe
  • O’Bistro with countless $25 gift certificates (initiated by Melalee Trovato)
  • Grant Teeple & his law firm helping with non-profit legal matters
  • Richard Irby
  • John Gary
  • Jon Koehler
  • Maya Grim
  • The FFC board
  • Parents!!!

ACCOMPLISHMENTS in 2013:

  • A total of 29 performances!
  • The FFMC provided a total of 590 volunteer hours to 41 students!
  • Selected First Friday Music Club students performed at the annual Gala for the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, also celebrating their 40th anniversary.
  • Derek Cannon Workshop/Master class at Correia Middle School with a final amazing concert at Tango Del Rey – the 8th successful collaboration of the First Friday Music Club and the Correia Instrumental Music Association for a workshop;
  • We provided help and entertainment for the music at the Point Loma Association Annual Gala dinner fundraiser;
  • Performed at the Portuguese Festival in Point Loma;
  • Performed at the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Summer Fest;
  • Performed at the First Friday Summer Nights at Liberty Station;
  • Opened up two of the Point Loma Summer Concerts;
  • Performed the PLNU Fall Festival for the 4th consecutive year;
  • Sponsored professional musicians to work at Correia Middle School with Band & Jazz Ensemble (Total of 50+ hours);
  • Sponsored assistance for beginning & intermediate guitar classes at Correia Middle School (total of 140+ hours);
  • Collecting a trunk full of canned and boxed food for the OB Food & Toy drive.

13+ DIFFERENT PLACES where the FFMC performed:

  • Humphreys Backstage Live
  • Bayside Bar & Grill
  • Pete’s Grill
  • Point Break Cafe
  • Point Loma Assembly
  • NTC Conference Center
  • Carson Elementary School
  • Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
  • Portuguese Hall
  • Point Loma Summer Concerts
  • Point Loma Nazarene University Fall Festival
  • St. Peter’s by the Sea Lutheran Church Summer Festival
  • Private Parties

THANK YOU!

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The First Friday Music Club in 2012

Who made it all possible through monetary donations:

  • Scott E. Clifton
  • Mary Kelly Clifton
  • The Hervey Family through the San Diego Foundation
  • Correia Instrumental Music Association (CIMA)
  • Point Loma Foundation (Summer Concerts)
  • Friends of Silver Gate (Lomapalooza fundraiser)
  • Carl & Gayle Nuffer
  • Janet Wilson
  • Anonymous donor
  • Parents, grandparents, relatives, friends & fans!!!

Other donations of things, time & space we couldn’t have done without:

  • Humphreys Backstage Live
  • Bayside Bar & Grill
  • Pete’s Grill
  • Old Venice Caffe, Restaurant & Bar
  • O’Bistro with countless $25 gift certificates
  • Richard Irby
  • John Gary
  • Maya Grim
  • The FFC board
  • Parents!!!

Accomplishments in 2012:

  • A total of 46 performances (see in the next section where we performed)
  • Provided a total of 879 volunteer hours to 37 students (and more)
  • Delfeayo Marsalis, the Correia Middle School Jazz Band, and the First Friday Music Club performed at the annual Gala for Voices of Children at the Rosecroft Estate, also celebrating the estates 100th anniversary.
  • Derek Cannon Workshop/ Master class at Correia Middle School with a final amazing concert at Sufi restaurant – the 7th successful collaboration of the First Friday Music Club and the Correia Instrumental Music Association
  • The FFMC was one of the highlights performing at the Kids Expo this fall at the Del Mar Fair grounds.
  • We provided the musical entertainment for The Hungry Dog Dash- PLHS’s annual run at Liberty Station.
  • Sponsored professional musicians to work at Correia Middle School with Band & Jazz Ensemble (Total of 50+ hours)
  • Sponsored assistance for beginning & intermediate guitar classes at Correia Middle School (total of 75+ hours)
  • Sponsored Jazz Jam sessions for Glen’s advanced students
  • Participated in the OB Food & Toy drive, collecting a trunk full of canned and boxed food

15+ different places where the kids performed:

  • Humphreys Backstage Live
  • Bayside Bar & Grill
  • Pete’s Grill
  • Rosecroft Estate
  • Point Loma Assembly
  • O’Farrell Middle School
  • Carson Elementary School
  • Old Venice Caffe, Restaurant & Bar
  • San Diego Yacht Club
  • Zlac Rowing Club
  • Kids Expo in Del Mar
  • Point Loma Summer Concerts
  • Point Loma Nazarene University Fall Festival
  • Private Parties

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