Abintra Rocks at Limelight!

    More than three hundred fans and supporters of Abintra Montessori School turned out for the "Victoria Shaw and Friends" music benefit at Limelight Nashville on Saturday March 27. The fundraiser featured Shaw and nine other hit songwriters and performers, several of whom are parents at the school.
    The headliners were Ty Herndon, Desmond Child, Alex Call, Bo Bice, Chuck Jones, Robin Meade, ad Cardin McKinney. All donated their time and talents in support of Abintra’s arts program.
    Shaw revved up the crowd just after 8 p.m. with a short intro, then turned the stage over to Alex Call and his wife, Lisa Carrie, both Abintra parents. Their group sang Call’s songs Power of Love (Huey Lewis) and 867-5309/Jenny as the crowd joined in.
      Next up was Abintra parent Chuck Jones, who ended his set by accompanying his 10-year-old daughter, Savannah. She belted out the song Dreams (Brandi Carlile) and received a standing ovation.
      Desmond Child, another Abintra parent, performed his hits Livin' On a Prayer (Bon Jovi) and Weird (Hanson), the song he calls his favorite because of its message about being different.
      Shaw took the stage between performances including one set with her young daughters Ruby and Ava.The girls sang their own rendition of I Try to Think About Elvis, with the song's writer, Gary Burr, on guitar.
      Other performers were Ty Herndon, a crowd favorite, Cardin McKinney, and Robin Meade. Meade, a CNN Headline news anchor, is co-writing an album with Shaw. The remaining performer and 2005 American Idol finalist, Bo Bice, was a fill-in for Bryan White, who missed the benefit due to his Canadian Tour.
      "I'm thrilled at the response by the Abintra Community and others in supporting our efforts to give back to the school," says Shaw. "It was a fun evening and I thank my fellow musicians and all the volunteers for helping to make this event a success for the second year in a row."
       Abintra is the only Montessori program in Nashville that educates from early childhood through middle school. Art is integrated throughout its curriculum, and the school is one of few that regularly contracts professional performing and visual artists to work directly with students, helping them to learn by doing rather than watching. 
        “At Abintra, we believe art is as important as mathematics, reading, science, and other academic subjects,” explains Sherry Knott, executive director.  “Visual and kinesthetic learning are effective ways to teach concepts that are crucial to a child’s intellectual growth.
      “For example, elementary students can learn certain math concepts by making Quipu knots, an ancient technique for counting. Or middle school students can study the French Revolution by creating and performing a historically-accurate play.”
       The music benefit at Limelight also featured a silent auction, which included original art and photography, custom services, designer jewelry and accessories, gift baskets, and celebrity memorabilia. The auction and ticket sales netted more than $8000 for Abintra.