RISE music concert at Whistle Stop Park

The annual Jared Music Foundation RISE Concert fundraiser comes to Whistle Stop Park Thursday, Sept. 7, at 5 p.m. The concert will begin with Mojomama, a funky blues Rock & Rails favorite, followed by Soul School, a crowd-pleasing multi-genre band that plays anything from soul to country to pop. Donations will provide young musicians from Boulder to Niwot to Longmont with scholarships and instruments to continue pursuing their love of music.

The concert is free. Dancing is encouraged. Food trucks and a beverage tent at the park will be available and it is recommended that participants bring lawn chairs if you want to sit. Sponsors include Niwot Wheel Works and The Wheel House, Compass Niwot Group, Deborah Fowler of DRF Real Estate/Slifer Smith & Frampton, Niwot Tavern, and 1914 House.

"JMF (Jared Music Foundation) has 30 active scholars, doubling the number of awards from last year," said Renae Dahiya, cofounder of the Jared Music Foundation, about the non-profit's commitment to its cause.

"Being able to support the voices and talents of these kids is what makes raising money and hosting this event so meaningful to us. Helping diversify access to music education is another huge accomplishment that makes what we do meaningful."

The foundation was started in memory of Jared Lizakowski, who died at 19 in a motorcycle accident on Niwot Road. Jared loved music and drumming, and his family, including his mother Renae, his stepfather Surinder Dahiya, and his father Jerry Lizakowski, started the foundation to honor his love for music.

The acronym RISE stands for Remember In September, the month when Jared was born. The foundation is a non-profit organization, and RISE is their main event of the year besides teaching students and the start of their application-based award cycles for K-12 grade students, which begins in October.

Tealights will be handed out to the audience for a surprise song in Jared's memory. The foundation's name, JARED, is also an acronym, standing for Join A Revolution, Educate Drummers.

According to Dahiya, Soul School has been playing for the concert for three years. Representatives from two music schools that The Jared Foundation works with, Mojo's Music Academy out of Longmont and the Boulder Symphony Music Academy (BSMA), will attend.

Paul Rogalski and his wife, Jessica Rogalski, are part of both MojoMama and Mojo's Music Academy, and are excited about the upcoming concert. Paul Rogalski said, "It's a great organization. They're very supportive of the community and music in general. We want to do what we can to help them out."

"Paul and Jessica of Mojo Music and Mojomama have supported us since 2017, and we are excited they are with us this year," Renae Dahiya said. "During their set, there will be a surprise performance as well that will include someone from BSMA."