Only halfway through his high school career, Harry Wepman-Wabeke is all-in on his creative endeavors.
He’s a student at Ottawa Hills High School, attends My School @ Kent through Kent Intermediate School District, is dual-enrolled in classes at Kendall College of Art and Design and Grand Rapids Community College, and participates in WMCAT’s Teen Arts + Tech Program after school — all so he can pursue his passions in music and design.
When Harry first encountered WMCAT as a middle school student attending Summer Camps in music production, he fell in love. As soon as he was old enough to participate in the Teen Arts + Tech Program, Harry enrolled with excitement to get back into the studio. “I’d already built a relationship with the staff. So, being able to continue that for free and use the equipment and be able to really focus on building skills, it was really great,” Harry says.
Harry (center) plays drums on stage at Grand Rapids venue Midtown alongside his WMCAT peer Andre Walker (left) and local professional artist Pharaoh Muhammad Khalil (right) during a tour for student album The Blue Rose.
Since then, Harry has come into his own at WMCAT. He was the producer on an album he and his peers created; played drums and ran sound during his studio’s live performance tour; and is known for collaborating with and supporting other students on their projects. He’s also found a mentor and friend in Teaching Artist Brandon Copeland.
Harry (left) with his WMCAT Teaching Artist Brandon Copeland (right). Brandon says of Harry, “he has gained so many skills and so much vision in music production.”
“There’s so many opportunities that I’ve gotten into because of WMCAT and the relationship that I’ve built with Brandon,” Harry says. He’s run sound at local venues and events — including Brandon’s own business, Grammotones — and has been able to play his beats for creatives in the industry.
“It feels like you’re getting respected not only as a learner, but as someone with skills,” Harry says. “That mentorship, it feels like I’m being seen as someone who can actually do these things.”
Learn more at artstech.wmcat.org.
