FARMINGTON — A little bit of rap, a little bit of sax and a whole lot of inspiration was modeled for students at Mt. Blue High School on Tuesday.

Devin Ferreira, a 2007 Mt. Blue graduate, returned to award this year’s Feel the Vibe Music Scholarship to senior Zack Cummings at Tuesday night’s Senior Award Night. 

The award, started last year by rap musician Ferreira, is given to a student who uses music to help the community. This year’s recipient has diabetes and teaches music at a camp for children with diabetes, Ferreira said. Cummings plays bass and will attend State University of New York in Purchase in the fall.

Before the senior awards, Ferreira also wanted a chance to inspire and encourage underclassmen at Mt. Blue with a noon concert Tuesday.

“High school can be a difficult transition in the lives of young people,” Ferreira said. “The performance at the high school is to let them know that anything is possible. It’s also to encourage them to aim for the stars and be willing to work hard to achieve their goals. Most importantly, to recognize and thank all the great people at Mt. Blue High School.”

Ferreira, a performing rap musician who combines rap and the saxophone, is also a full-time teacher of music at the Boys and Girls Club in Boston.

Growing up in New Sharon, Ferreira began rapping at age 6 and playing the saxophone at age 8. He also started writing at age 8, he told the students.

“I love to write and kept at it,” he said, encouraging students to find a creative outlet for their feelings when going through a challenging situation. “Other people are going through the same thing.”

With heads nodding, toes tapping and hands clapping, Ferreira sought responses from the students who listened to the stories voiced in his fast-spoken rap and hip-hop songs.

“Be happy in the present moment,” he told them. “Happy with what you have now.”

Ferreira noted the changes in the high school since his days there.

“Take advantage of what you have here,” he said during the concert. “High school is the time to experiment with different things like music, art and athletics.

“The school has changed so much but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the good people here,” he said. 

His work with youngsters in Boston was apparent by his ease in encouraging the students through his words and music.

Mt. Blue junior Peyton Smith joined him on stage to perform one of his songs and then joined Ferreira for a Devin song.

“He is a local emcee/artist who is using hip-hop to bring the community together,” Ferreira said. “I want to acknowledge the importance of this in front of his school and encourage him to continue honing his craft.”  

Ferreira found encouragement to continue his musical dream within the RSU 9 music program. What he received while a student inspired him to want to give back.  

He has decided, no matter how much he earns, to give 10 percent back to children, he previously said about the scholarship award he started. 

The Feel the Vibe Music Scholarship is focused on recognizing those who use music to inspire and encourage the lives of others, he said.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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