Stax graduate wins Berklee scholarship | People

(WMC-TV) - A graduate of the Stax Music Academy will get a free ride to one of the nation's premier music schools.

Vocalist Khari Alamin found out that she had been granted a full, 4 year scholarship to Boston's Berklee College of Music during a special ceremony Wednesday night.

"De temps en temp is a phrase that the French use for 'from time to time,'" said Kirk Whalum, chief creative officer at The Soulsville Foundation. "It denotes a sort of 'visitation,' a very special, serendipitous, occasion to be celebrated. I can say without reserve that I've witnessed a visitation of sorts, from none other than the spirit of the great Billie 'Lady Day' Holiday, in one of our Stax Music Academy students: Khari Alamin. She's an old soul with a big future. It comes out in her voice, even when she speaks! Billie, Khari... de temps en temp we experience such a wonderful embodiment."

Alamin took part in the school's 5 week summer program this year and performed with American Idol winner Kris Allen during the group's final performance.

The summer program provides music education to students in underserved communities from around the nation. Of the roughly 100 students chosen to perform in Boston, some of those are even luckier and earn scholarships to the school.

“Every year, for the last 20 years, I am blown away by the power of music," said J. Curtis Warner, Jr., the school's executive director, said in a written statement. "When these kids develop their talents and skills in music, you can see their confidence grow too and with that, the potential for success is just limitless."

Copyright 2012 WMC-TV. All rights reserved.