What ACME has done for me...

Hi. My name is Melanie Horn and I am currently a member of Arkansas Center for Music Education (ACME).

I have been involved in some sort of music for as long as I can remember. I started playing the violin at the age of 4. Music has always been a huge influence in my life. I had every intention of majoring in Music Education after high school. Unfortunately, life had other intentions for me. Between marriage, children, divorce and disability, my dreams never came true. My heart was completely broken, as this had been my childhood dream for as long as I can remember.

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Brian and Shirley Faulkner when I was 13. We attended the same church and Brian was the director of music. He gave me the opportunity to play in the church band. He may not realize it, but he saved my life. I was extremely depressed and even suicidal. Playing in the church band gave me something to look forward to every week. Without that weekly goal, I may not have been here today to tell my story.

After I turned 18 and began my adult life, I lost contact with Brian and Shirley. I kept up, somewhat, on the different music education ventures they perused but I never really joined in due to this or that, usually lack of time. Life took me many different places, even as far away as Alaska. Due to the illness and subsequent death of my father, I found myself back in Russellville in 2013. I was lucky to find a young college graduate that was selling her flute and allowed me to make payments on it. Once it was paid off, I contacted Shirley about joining the community band through ACME. She told me when and where to pick up music and when practices were. For 18 years, I had felt a huge, empty spot in my soul. I always knew that hole was there due to lack of music. ACME has filled that empty spot and I have found the opportunity to play and learn more than I ever could have without a formal education. My life is now complete and I couldn't have asked for more. Brian and Shirley have welcomed me back with no judgements or prejudices and ACME has given something back to me that I would never have had otherwise. This organization is truly a gift and blessing that I don't deserve. For that, I am eternally grateful.