- February 7, 2025
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Maggie Ramos, Camryn Smith, Gregory Smith, Damian Bonazzoli and Billy Depario at the first Elite Academy of Music and Motion's veteran's guitar class graduation. Photo courtesy of Damian Bonazzoli
Billy Depario, Damian Bonazzoli and Maggie Ramos at the first Elite Academy of Music and Motion's veteran's guitar class graduation. Photo courtesy of Damian Bonazzoli
Jeff Smith pins a graduation medal on Bill Depario during the first Elite Academy of Music and Motion's veteran's guitar class graduation as Robert Peterson looks on. Photo courtesy of Damian Bonazzoli
A close-up of the Academy Achievement medal, which was created by Camryn Smith and Gregory Smith. Photo courtesy of Damian Bonazzoli
The Elite Academy of Music and Motion hosted its first veteran's guitar class graduation on Sept. 9, after giving four former military servicemen the chance to learn a new musical skill free of cost.
Damian Bonazzoli, directo of the Elite Academy of Music and Motion, is an army veteran himself. Earlier this year, Bonazzoli noticed there were a lot of vets already studying at the academy. One day, his private student Jeff Smith came to him after hearing about a guitar program for veterans.
“I thought, that’s really, really neat," Bonazzoli said. "We could do that. I could do that.”
The more Bonazzoli thought about the idea, the more he liked it. He got to work at making the idea a reality and began coordinating with local donors to see if they could provide each veteran with a free instruction book and their own guitar if they needed one. In the end, the academy was able to purchase 12 new guitars thanks to their donors, three of which they gave away during this class segment.
“Basically, we’re going to take away every reason for them not to do it because we believed so strongly in what it was and how powerful it can be," Bonazzoli said.
That leaves nine guitars for Bonazzoli to give away to the next free guitar class for veterans, which he hopes to hold in January.
For him, having this class is a way of giving back. Bonazzoli comes from a military family as well, and has fond memories of marching in Veteran's Day parades with his father. He said those experiences, coupled with his own army service, have spurred his respect for the veteran community.
The classes have also meant a lot to his graduating students. One of them, Billy Depario, had been dealing with health problems and had a heart surgery not so long ago. Depario approached Bonazzoli and expressed what the class meant to him.
“A couple of classes in he said to me: ‘Now I feel like I’m coming back to life,’” Bonazzoli said.
Bonazzoli put his arm around Depario and began to tear up. Hearing those words helped him grasp the difference the classes were making for his veteran students.
“What more motivation do you need?” Bonazzoli said,
He also hopes to extend the free guitar class program to groups in need beyond the veteran community.
“There are other groups of people that really need something positive too," Bonazzoli said. "I’d very much like to be able to provide that.”
