Thomas Grice is an important man who utilized music as a way to grow communities by providing an outlet for expression. He was the founder of the nonprofit organization “Thomas Grice Academy of Music”. through this nonprofit organization, he was able to share his intelligence and passion for the art of music. Thomas Grice was a talented jazz musician most commonly playing the saxophone, he recently passed away October 30th, 2017. Grice got his MA from Columbia University and performed with Betty Carter, Ben Riley, and Donald Byrd. Grice went from being a music teacher to creating his own school of music in Trenton “the Thomas Grice Academy of Music in Trenton.” Grice mentored many famous Trenton-born musicians, he performed a concert for college students at TCNJ in conjunction with a class for freshman at TCNJ called Trenton Makes Music, taught by Kim Pearson who said  “The cultural bounty of this region needs to be better known and understood,” Thomas grice had a large effect on the Trenton area, motivating individuals to express themselves through music. Music and art are beautiful ways for community members to emote and embrace individuality, hopefully empowering youth to push and challenge themselves. 

• The effect the Academy of Music had on individuals and their lives.
• Thomas’s development in the world of music
• The effect of music on youth

 

Shaw, S. (2014, December 08). Local jazz legend Grice performs at the College. Retrieved from http://www.tcnjsignal.net/2014/11/05/local-jazz-legend-grice-performs-at-the-college/