Music education comes naturally to Porter chair

As board president for Art Porter Music Education and one of the planners of the organization’s A Work of Art fundraiser, Sterling Ingram sees it as a privilege to bring to the city “outstanding musicians, some that the community has not heard before or may not know as well.” The weeklong A Work of Art begins Monday and will feature concerts by several jazz musicians, culminating with a Saturday performance by saxophonist Kirk Whalum.
As board president for Art Porter Music Education and one of the planners of the organization’s A Work of Art fundraiser, Sterling Ingram sees it as a privilege to bring to the city “outstanding musicians, some that the community has not heard before or may not know as well.” The weeklong A Work of Art begins Monday and will feature concerts by several jazz musicians, culminating with a Saturday performance by saxophonist Kirk Whalum.

Attending the former Horace Mann High School, Sterling Ingram was a student of noted jazz pianist Art Porter Sr., whose classes included vocal music as well as advanced general music. Ingram took the latter.

"I didn't realize how well he had prepared me until after I went to college," Ingram recalls. "When I went to college based on the things that Art Sr. taught me in that class, I was able to go right into first-year [music] theory without having to go into any preliminary or remedial kind of work. So I was really thrilled about that."

Ingram graduated in 1962 and went on to earn his bachelor's degree in music education at what is now Tennessee State University in Nashville, and a master's of education with emphasis in music at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Then, in 1967, he returned to Horace Mann and began teaching alongside his former instructor.

Eventually, Art Sr. transferred to Parkview. Ingram stayed at Horace Mann, which transitioned to a middle school, for about a decade, then he, too, was reassigned to Parkview. "Lo and behold, Art Jr. was just finishing up junior high school," Ingram says. The younger Porter, a renowned jazz saxophonist, came to Parkview to complete his secondary education ... and was taught music by Ingram, who says "it was really a thrill for me to have him as a student."

"He was a tremendous role model, Art Jr. was, for the students that I had in the band program at Parkview." All the saxophone players who played in the jazz band wanted to sound like him. "And, to be quite honest, it made part of my job real easy ... He was the one that kind of laid down the model for all of the saxophone players that followed."

Ingram is now retired after serving as a music teacher and administrator for the Little Rock School District as well as at posts at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the state Department of Education. His relationship with both Porters has continued long past their deaths. As the longtime board chairman for Art Porter Music Education, he's instrumental in the planning and production of the nonprofit organization's two major fundraisers -- For the Love of Art, held in honor of Art Sr.'s Feb. 8 birthday, and A Work of Art, a weeklong scholarship benefit held in conjunction with Art Jr.'s Aug. 3 birthday.

MASTERPIECE (AUDIO) THEATER

A Work of Art 2018 begins Monday with a free official kickoff event at City Hall. It continues Tuesday with Jazz on the River, a free concert featuring the young members of Art Porter Music Education's Minors in Music program, in the River Market Pavilion. On Wednesday, jazz vocalist Martha Burks will appear in concert for 7 and 9 p.m. shows at Cajun's Wharf, 2400 Cantrell Road; tickets are $35-$50. Thursday will feature jazz vocalist "Sweet Lu" Olutosin in concert for 7 and 9 p.m. shows at Khalil's Pub & Grill, 110 S. Shackleford Road; tickets are $40. Friday, the Porter Players will have a free, 3-8 p.m. jam session at 109 & Co., 109 Main St. The week will culminate with a concert featuring jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum, 8 p.m. at Wildwood Park for the Arts; tickets are $50-$65.

The 2018 scholarship recipient, Daniel Johnson II of Watson Chapel High School, will be introduced at Saturday's concert. Johnson will perform, as well as jazz violinist Lexington Porter, grandson of Art Sr., and G-Music, a group comprised, in part, of former Minors in Music members. These young musicians will be featured, along with students who attended an organization-sponsored camp, prior to Whalum's performance.

Proceeds from the week will be used for renewable, $3,000 scholarships for promising Arkansas music students.

Formerly Art Porter Sr. Music Education, the organization was started in honor of the elder Porter, who founded the vocal ensemble known as the Art Porter Singers. Ingram serves as their director.

"When [Art Sr.] passed in 1993, I don't think I volunteered, I think I was kind of drafted, sort of, by a majority of the choir" to be its director, Ingram says. Benita Porter-Browning, executive director of the organization, remembers that shortly before her father succumbed to cancer, he'd asked Ingram to take the helm.

"Sterling Ingram has been such an integral part of the Porter family that words don't do our relationship justice," says Porter-Browning. "I don't have to look for or make up flowery words for Mr. Ingram. He means the world to me. I count on his guidance and APME would not be the same without him."

NO DRAFT DODGER

Asked how he came to work with the organization, Ingram laughs. "I know I was drafted in this particular job," he says. Art Jr., his wife, Barbi, and his mother, Thelma Pauline Porter, were the founders. "At that time Pauline ... was very insistent that I come on board," Ingram says. "She always made me feel that it was something I really should do, needed to do. After coming on board I quickly realized that it was something that I really wanted to do and was willing to do."

In 1996, Art Jr. passed away in a tragic boating accident in Thailand; Barbi Porter passed away of cancer only five years later. "That created real challenges for us and we really ceased to be in existence for a number of years," Ingram says. The organization came back to life around 2010, when he got a call from Porter-Browning -- "'Mom and I would like to meet with you.'" They discussed the state of the organization. "Benita at that point had come to a decision within herself that it [leading the organization] was something that she wanted to do now.

"As I recall ... Benita said, 'I need you to help me do this.' And it was not a request that I could turn down. I knew that we were doing good work before, and I felt that we could do good work again ... so I made a commitment. And that commitment stands."

Ingram says Art Porter Music Education benefits from a working board of committed people, including some famous out-of-staters, such as jazz recording artists Alex Bugnon, Will Downing and Jeff Lorber. In addition to the scholarship program, the organization sponsors the Art Porter Music Institute, which includes Minors in Music workshops, and the Little Emcees program, which helps develop children's public speaking skills.

"I think we feel a commitment to be certain that the legacy of both of those men, Art Jr. and Art Sr., remains. And this is just the best way to do that," Ingram says.

Ingram usually handles the scholarship part of the program, making sure the selection committee is communicating personally with the recipient and making certain that the recipient is able to meet all expectations. Those expectations include the recipient's presence at the Saturday main event. "We want the people to see the person and know that we're for real with what we're trying to do."

FRUITS OF THEIR LABOR

One of the organization's star recipients, Ingram says, is Julia Buckingham, a pianist who performs locally as well as throughout the country and who's also an organization volunteer, serving on the scholarship committee and coordinating the scholarship program.

For Ingram, getting ready for the Big Week involves lining up and training the volunteers for whichever night they're going to work; transportation and hospitality for the artists; making contact with all venues to double-check scheduling and ensure there are no slip-ups; arranging sound checks; making sure events start on time. Then there's the publicity work: Ingram and fellow board member Alma Williams usually team up to appear on radio and television to plug the event.

Ingram says he'd like to see the crowds larger with bigger venues. He'd also like to see the support base grow in general and for it to gain a major sponsor in particular -- to the point where they could provide more than one scholarship a year.

Again, this is an ideal volunteer gig for him.

"Art Porter Music Education provides an opportunity for me to continue to help students succeed. I love teaching with a passion." And he loves music. This organization, and directing the Art Porter Singers, gives him the opportunity to stay close to his loves.

"As long as I love doing it, and can see where it's making a difference and continuing that legacy, then I'll continue to do it."

A Work of Art, Monday-Saturday; various venues. Concert tickets: $35-$65. VIP packages are available. For more information and tickets, visit Artporter.org.

photo

Sterling Ingram loves helping enhance the lives of young people with his involvement with Art Porter Music Education. “You have to have people in your lives that are willing to invest in you, and support you,” he says. “And that’s what we really are trying to do, invest in young people who have a commitment to music.”

High Profile on 07/29/2018

Upcoming Events