Music on a Mission

09/02/2026

Country Honk is a four-piece honky-tonk band proudly rooted in Cleveland, Ohio, blending classic country tradition with the raw energy of rock and roll. Known for their dynamic live shows and sharp songwriting, the band draws inspiration from legends like Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson, while channeling the spirit of the country rock movement of the ’60s and ’70s.

* All Barnegie Hall performances support our programs at Music on A Mission. Seats are limited so reserve your seat TODAY ($20 each) online: https://donorbox.org/events/918207/steps/choose_tickets

09/01/2026

Thank you Avon Lake Paper Chase!

When planning this year’s Paper Chase, we knew from the very beginning that we wanted to find a meaningful way to give back to our community. Along the way, we stumbled upon Barnegie Hall — a true hidden gem right here in Avon Lake — and we quickly realized it was so much more than we ever could have imagined.

What this incredible organization does for not only our beautiful community, but so many of our surrounding communities, is nothing short of amazing. ❤️

Tonight, our Paper Chasers had the opportunity to experience this amazing venue firsthand while also giving back to an organization doing so much good. Together, we raised over $500 for Barnegie Hall, and I couldn’t be more proud of our Paper Chase community!

Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and helped make tonight so special. This is what community is all about — coming together, having fun, and making a difference along the way.

Take a few minutes to learn more about Music on a Mission and everything they are doing, and consider planning a night out at one of their upcoming events. You’ll be supporting something truly special right here in our own backyard! 🎶❤️

Thank you, Paper Chasers, for showing once again just how amazing our community truly is!

Music on a Mission

08/12/2026

We’re happy to announce that we’ve added 2 classes monthly to FUNdamental Learning Center, a daycare/school in Lorain. Here you see the children using scarves for undirected movements. The classes build on one another: The instructors begin with instrument exploration and everyone gets to hold/beat a drum or other percussion instrument. There are singing activities that engage the group as a whole and also give individual attention, which increases eye contact and connection. There are also movement activities with scarves, teddy bears, and other props for those who are mobile. The baseline of behaviors is very individual because of the wide variety of disabilities.
Goals:
1. Increase social interaction, waiting turns, listening, following directions through songs and activities using call and response;
2. Encourage individual creativity through undirected movement activities;
3. Increase self-control and focus, which decreases behavioral outbursts;
4. Increase connectedness with others and increase attention span.

08/05/2026

THANK YOU to all who purchased tickets to the September 19th Clayton Brothers concert. We’re happy to report that this event is now sold out! Stay tuned for information on more upcoming Barnegie Hall events, which are also listed on our website (see link in comments below)

07/10/2026

Join us for an evening of early American roots music, including early jazz, acoustic blues, and originals. Bent String features the vocals of Kari Ann Rutushin who is joined by Reed Simon’s hot violin, Kevin Richards on acoustic guitars and Cleveland Blues Hall of Fame upright bassist, Raymond DeForest.

Kari is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Champion, Ohio, and is a professional vocalist with a decade of sharing stages across Northeast Ohio. She entertains with her uke, piano, washboard, and flute in the styles of jazz, folk, R&B, country, and pop.

Ray is Bent String's all-star bassist and vocalist. He is an acoustic and electric bass master who teaches jazz, blues, and other styles of roots music at Musicologie in Cleveland Heights.

Reed is Bent String’s up-front soloist. He also works with the music group, the Hot Club of Cleveland, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, and Hot D’Jang, performing swing, bebop and beyond. Reed performs in the Bluegrass Band, Lost Bob and the Ozone Ramblers.

Kevin plays many different guitar styles. He is recognized by the Ohio Arts Council as a master musician in the Piedmont guitar style. He also plays mandolin, fiddle and banjo. Kevin founded the non-profit organization, Roots of American Music, in 1999 and served for over two decades in various roles.

Caroline King joins the ensemble on traditional french cafe accordion, electric keyboards and vocals. Her music creates a lovely mood, subdued, but not intrusive.

* * All Barnegie Hall performances support our programs at Music on A Mission. (All Barnegie Hall events are BYOB and any snacks*). Seats are limited so reserve your seat TODAY ($20 each) online: https://donorbox.org/events/919568/steps/choose_tickets

07/06/2026

Music in motion at Palm Elementary School in Lorain: In this picture from May, you see creative movements by the kids to the song, “Octopus' Garden.” This kids in tune activity helps them learn how to pay attention, take turns, follow directions, and increase their focus and social connectedness. We have 4 teachers engaged in music intervention throughout 24 classes in 7 school systems monthly to kids with disabilities. In fact, we just added FUNdamental Learning Center, a daycare/preschool in Lorain.

06/21/2026

Tracy Marie is a veteran of the Northern Ohio area music scene. She has been performing roots, blues, and rock for more than 25 years. Tracy Marie will perform the music from her 7th release, entitled “Piano.” She will be sharing the stage with singer-songwriter Cherylann Hawk from Pittsburgh, and Cleveland's own multi-instrumentalist Blues extraordinaire, Saam Cabot of QS Jazz.

* All Barnegie Hall performances support our programs at Music on A Mission. (All Barnegie Hall events are BYOB and any snacks*). Seats are limited so reserve your seat TODAY ($20 each) online: https://donorbox.org/events/918202/steps/choose_tickets

06/16/2026

Rachel Brown & The Beatnik Playboys are a unique musical anachronism – Americana music of today that seems like it could have come from an era when milk came in glass bottles and doctors still made house calls. Powered by singer-songwriter Brown’s multi-octave voice, fed by guitarist Dave Huddleston’s tasty licks and harmonies, decorated by the smooth grooves of string bassist Bill Watson and drummer Roy King, the band journeys through a musical landscape of country, jazz, blues and gospel.
Rachel has opened for myriad top artists including: Emmylou Harris; Loretta Lynn; The Judds; Willie Nelson; Merle Haggard; Peter Cooper & Eric Brace; Nathan Bell; Mary Chapin Carpenter; Clint Black; Bill Kirchen; Ray Stevens; Toby Keith; Brad Paisley; and Vern Gosdin. She is also a music teacher for the Elyria City School District.

* All Barnegie Hall performances support our programs at Music on A Mission. Seats are limited so reserve your seat TODAY ($20 each) online: https://donorbox.org/events/918201/steps/choose_tickets