Developed by Bell Solloa, a single mother whose son, a self-taught musician, was entering a high school without music classes. She recognized a lack of funding, so she initiated a music program. From day one, the program was a success and quickly went from one after-school class to two. Within a month, the program was a full-fledged business, which her son helped name: High Voltage Music Program. As of August 2022, it is officially a non-profit.

With initial support from Rackspace and Guitar Center, the program grew to include four area high schools and was set to open in the 5th school when the pandemic hit in 2020. The program is slowly recovering, and as of 2022, High Voltage has produced 12 student bands.

The students play off-campus at local venues and events, including Teens on a Mission, a High Voltage showcase. This event brings together High Voltage bands and artists from around the area to show their work and provides another avenue for the youth in the program to be a part of a collaborative event and meet other teen creatives from the San Antonio area.

Not only are there multiple cognitive benefits, but music can also be an escape from the realities of life, a non-verbal communicator, and a great way to create friendships in high school, college, young adulthood, and beyond.

The program graduates often receive their instruments as graduation gifts, and some also receive small college scholarships. The instruments remind them of their years in the program, and hopefully, they will continue practicing and playing.

Music changes lives…