Justin Veatch Fund First Annual Two-Day Music Workshop Opens Doors

Justin Veatch was a talented songwriter, performer, and musician. He played every musical instrument he picked up, created his own band, recorded music, and through songs he conveyed his feelings.

In 2008, Justin died in his sleep as a result of an accidental drug overdose at age 17.

Now his parents continue his legacy through the Justin Veatch Fund. The non-profit organization awards annual scholarships to graduating high school students who plan study in the music field. The Fund also sponsors a series of Open Mic Nights at the Yorktown Teen Center, which will resume in the fall.

Their latest effort to reach out to talented young performing artists and provide them with opportunities to collaborate with and be challenged by like-minded peers and professionals is a two-day music workshop, which will run August 18 and August 19 at the Briarcliff Manor High School.

Justin's father Jeffrey said this is the first annual workshop, but they planned to expand it beyond that. The workshop will expose students to a group of professional musicians who would lecture, discuss, demonstrate and collaborate with them.

Veatch said the workshop would not teach music or any specific instruments, but students would rather learn things the traditional school music programs don't teach such as song writing, vocal technique and harmonies, technical aspect of performing and recording, engaging an audience and making the most of one's talent.

"Each student will have an opportunity to perform as an individual or in an ensemble, be critiqued in a nurturing environment and later participate with members of the professional staff to create a performance staged before the public as the final event of the workshop," he said.

The workshop is open to all ages. Currently, there are 12 registered students, the youngest being 11 and the oldest person being 21 years old.

There will be a variety of programs offered.

At the workshop Good Old War band members Keith Goodwin, Dan Schwartz and Tim Arnold will speak to the kids about vocal harmony and how they create music. The trio will perform some of their songs, and demonstrate and discuss vocal exercises they use to keep their voices in top shape.

Folk-pop artist Sloan Wainwright will hold vocal workshops where she will share her experience as a performer. Jon Gailmor will hold songwriting workshops.

Other professionals will include Moving Mountains founder Greg Dunn, singer/songwriters Jennifer Zulli and Brian Joyce of My Morning Radio and Anthony Mandel.

"That experience with recording entertainers, you can't put a price on it," Veatch said.

Registration is ongoing and those interested can sign up the day of. Tuition is $195 per students, with attendance limited to 50. Jeffrey said they offer scholarships to those who can't afford it.

On the first day, August 18, the workshop would be open to the public for an hour starting at 2 p.m. free of charge and Veatch said he hoped people would want to donate.

The Veatch family and friends are keeping Justin's memory alive through various ways. Every year since Justin's death, on his birthday, January 5, his family and friends gather in his music room to play music.

"It's daily for us," his father said. "We try to remember his music. His friends are very supportive."

In 2005, Justin created his musical band, "The Ivoryton Piano Factory." The name was inspired by road trips north from New York through Ivoryton, Connecticut, where an old piano factory had been abandoned. In his basement studio, with a sophisticated laptop computer program, the talented musician combined analog and virtual sounds into songs he often performed entirely by himself.

Jeffrey Veatch said children experiment with drugs, which ultimately caused hi son's tragic death. 

"Parents have to be very vigilant," Jeffrey Veatch said. "They have to stay on top of things."

To register for the music workshop, click here.

To read more about the Justin Veatch Fund, click here.

To view the music workshop schedule, click here.

To donate by mail send check to The Justin Veatch Fund, PO Box 1323, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. or to donate online, click here.

The Justin Veatch Fund is a non-profit 501c3 corporation. All contributions are tax deductible.