Bluecoats and Fairless Local Schools Announce Community Partnership

Written By Mike Scott

Today Bluecoats and Fairless Local Schools announced a new partnership that makes Fairless the Official Education Partner of Bluecoats. The partnership establishes Fairless High School as the home of the Bluecoats audition events in Stark County, and sets the stage for new Bluecoats educational events coming in 2025 and beyond. These include an education-focused marching band festival and a concert band festival. Both events will be hosted at the beautiful new Fairless High School.

The brand new Fairless High School gymnasium.

The partnership, which was approved at the Board of Education’s October 15th meeting, is a renewable two-year agreement. At the meeting, Fairless Superintendent Mike Hearn said “[this agreement] works for both groups, [which each] have similar strategic goals. At Fairless, we are aiming to make our district the community where families want to learn, live, work, and grow. Access to world-class performing arts [by Bluecoats] for our community is one way to do this.”

More than 1,000 performers are expected to audition for the Bluecoats in 2025, and many will travel to Fairless to start their Bluecoats Experience. The partnership ensures that this programming has a world-class facility to call home during the winter and spring season.

Bluecoats CEO Mike Scott said “we’re very grateful for the friendship that we have developed with Fairless. The district and Superintendent Hearn have been incredibly welcoming to us and our students. I’m especially looking forward to the new local events that we’re developing now to be hosted at Fairless next year. We’re committed to to generating more nationally-recognized events in our county and to expand access to our programming to local kids!”

Mike Scott
Mike Scott is a clinician, consultant, and the CEO of Rhythm X, Inc., a non-profit music education company in Dayton, Ohio. Mike earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 2012. There he studied percussion and conducting and completed the Farmer School of Business Summer Institute. Before beginning his career as an administrator and teacher, Mike was an active performer in the marching arts. In 2011 Mike was the conductor of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps of Canton, Ohio and was a performer in Rhythm X’s percussion ensemble from 2011-2012. Mike was also a member of the Miami University Marching Band for four years, serving as the drum major during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. In 2013 Mike began work at Rhythm X, Inc. as the Operations Director, managing the business development and logistics of the organization. He was also the Director of Instrumental Music at St. Ursula Academy in Toledo, Ohio. There he taught band, orchestra, and general music in grades 6-12. Prior to the 2015 competitive season, Mike became the first full-time employee at Rhythm X, Inc. as the company’s CEO. There he works with the organization’s President Tim Fairbanks to develop the future strategy of the company. During the summer months, Mike travels the country with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps as the group’s Tour Administrator. He has also served as the tour manager of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mike proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, Etymotic Research, and Fred J. Miller Inc.
http://mikewscott.com
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