FAME - Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education, Inc.

09/08/2026

Thank you to the DC Jazz Festival organization for inviting our FAME Jazz Band and Artistic Director Langston Hughes II to perform at the Wharf yesterday. We are grateful for the opportunity and the warmth received from the crowd. A shout out to our founder Toni Lewis and inaugural Artistic Director Nat Adderley Jr. for your dedication and support.

09/07/2026

Thank you to the DC Jazz Festival organization for inviting our FAME Jazz Band and Artistic Director Langston Hughes II to perform at the Wharf yesterday. We are grateful for the opportunity and the warmth received from the crowd. A shout out to our founder A. Toni Lewis and inaugural Artistic Director Nat Adderley Jr. for your dedication and support

Joshua Beamer Jayden Spence ben🇦🇺

08/24/2026

08/20/2026

For the 3rd year in a row, FAME- Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education - is a recipient of the Music Matters Grant. It's an honor bestowed by Law Rocks DC. You are invited to celebrate with us at the 11th Annual Law Rocks Washington DC , where local legal professionals form rock bands and perform to raise money for their favorite nonprofits over two nights, Thursday September 10 & Friday September 11 at the Atlantis, 2047 9th St NW, Washington DC 20001. Come enjoy the music both nights, and see FAME get their award at the Friday show! To find out more and to get your tickets, follow the link below.

Come witness legal professionals rock out for charity over two nights at The Atlantis! Bands of lawyers-turned-rock stars will take the stage for amazing local nonprofits.

07/16/2026

Happy birthday to us! Yesterday, 7/15, marked FAME's 22nd anniversary. That's over two decades of championing quality music education and strong academics for youth in the Greater Washington Region through our four-pronged approach of Music Education, Academic Support, College Preparation and Career Readiness. Our programming, including our three major programs: Summer Music, Music Is Central, and the FAME Jazz Band, allows participants to grow while learning from professional artists. This standard flows through all that we do, including our Summer Music Program (Pictured are students from last week's 2026 Summer Music Program at the University of Maryland College Park).

Congrats to our Founder and CEO, Ms. A Toni Lewis, and here's to many more musical years!

07/09/2026

The learning continues this week at FAME Summer Music Program, presented by FAME-Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education, in partnership with the University of Maryland School of Music. Today, students had the extraordinary opportunity to learn from Eric Roberson—a two-time Grammy-nominated R&B singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and independent recording artist—during a dynamic and highly interactive songwriting workshop. The session gave students an inside look at the creative process behind writing authentic, compelling songs, as Eric challenged them to think beyond lyrics and melodies, encouraging them to draw from their own experiences, emotions, and unique voices. Students shared ideas as well as their own music creations. Ms. A. Toni Lewis, FAME Founder & CEO, said, "This workshop exemplifies FAME's commitment to connecting students with world-class artists and industry professionals who provide transformative experiences that prepare our youth for success in music, higher education, and future careers." The session was such a success that FAME is bringing Mr. Roberson back to present a Part 2 of the workshop for FAME students during the upcoming school year.

07/09/2026

On Monday, FAME kicked off our 2026 Summer Music Program with the first of two weeklong series of workshops. This week, we are at the University of Maryland College Park. Yesterday, the students enjoyed a presentation by Ms. Blossom Olumese, Solutions Manager of John Wiley & Sons, called GenAI: Leveraging AI to Amplify Creativity. The session was informative and generated many questions and input from our participants, who are middle and high school students from the DMV and beyond.

Students also received one on one music instruction from a number of professional musicians including:
Carroll Dashiell III, Reginald Payne, Alex Silverbook, Langston H. Hughes ll, Alex Parchment, Brandon Jamal Felder, Brandon Seaforth, and interns Faith Tarkang, Travon Jackson , and
Kenji Yokote.

04/14/2026

🚨FAME JAZZ BAND AUDITIONS ARE OPEN! 🎶

Ready to take your musicianship to the next level? The FAME Jazz Band Program is more than just a band—it’s a transformative experience for young musicians across the Greater Washington Region.

This tuition-free scholarship program is designed for middle & high school students who are serious about their craft, passionate about music, and committed to academic excellence.

📅 Important Dates:
• April 6 – Application Opens
• May 2 – Application Deadline (11:59PM)
• May 2 – Teacher Recommendation Due
• Auditions begin May 18

📍 Audition Locations:
• University of Maryland School of Music (College Park, MD)
• Harmony Hall Arts Center (Fort Washington, MD)

If you—or a student you know—are ready to grow, perform, and be part of a powerful musical community, this is your moment!

🔗 Apply now: FAMEMusic.org
📩 Questions? [email protected]

01/22/2026

FAME Appoints Langston H. Hughes ll as Artistic Director!

FAME proudly announces the appointment of Langston Hughes II as Artistic Director of the FAME Jazz Band, marking an exciting new chapter in the organization’s ongoing commitment to artistic excellence, education, and community impact.

“The appointment of Langston Hughes II as Artistic Director represents a powerful alignment of excellence and empowerment and reaffirms my vision to increase access to quality music and education for all youth,” said A. Toni Lewis, Founder and CEO of FAME. “Langston’s journey from student to mentor embodies everything FAME stands for and reflects our belief that artistry and meaningful community impact must go hand in hand.”

Read the full press release at FAMEmusic.org!