“Rhythms of Resilience” Drumming Performance
The Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay (VACTB), in proud partnership with Stageworks Theatre, invites the community to an evening of rhythm, resilience, and connection featuring The Motley Veterans Drumming Squad.
Taking place on April 30th at 6:30 PM, this performance is more than just a concert; it is a showcase of the therapeutic power of the arts. The Drumming Squad brings together former service members who have found a new mission through percussion, using synchronized rhythm as a tool for camaraderie and post-service healing.
“Art and music provide a language for veterans that words often cannot reach,” says Tonya O'Brien “Partnering with Stageworks allows us to bring this powerful experience to a wider stage, celebrating the talent and dedication of those who have served.”
Event Details :What: The Motley Veterans Drumming Squad Performance
When: April 30th, 2026 | Doors open at 6:00 PM | Show starts at 6:30 PM
Where: Stageworks Theatre, [Insert Address], Tampa, FL
Cost: FREE (Ticketed Event)
RSVP: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/drumming-performance
Amenities: Light refreshments will be provided following the performance.
While the event is free to the public, tickets are required due to limited seating. Attendees are encouraged to reserve their spots early to witness this high-energy, soul-stirring performance.
About Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay: VACTB provides veterans, active-duty personnel, and their families with a safe harbor for creativity, offering programs in visual arts, music, and writing to support mental health and community reintegration.
About Stageworks Theatre: As Tampa’s longest-running professional theatre company, Stageworks is dedicated to providing the highest quality professional theatre which ignited the human spirit and examined the relevant issues of our time
🎉 Excitement is in the air! Get ready to be part of something extraordinary at Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay's fundraising event. It's an event like no other, and we want you to be there! 🎉
Every registration to this event will bring us closer to achieving our mission. Together, we can create a brighter, more compassionate world for all.
Our "Rhythms of Resilience" program is a pioneering creative and therapeutic initiative designed to harness the power of rhythm, music, and collaborative art to foster healing, connection, and self-expression among our nation's veterans. Developed specifically for veterans seeking innovative pathways to well-being, this program offers a unique opportunity to engage in the shared experience of group drumming.
Under the expert guidance of a dedicated facilitator – a professional musician and master teacher with over 25 years of experience – participants will embark on a journey of rhythmic discovery. Through accessible and engaging sessions, veterans will learn to master a diverse array of hip-hop and popular beats, culminating in a celebratory showcase performance for their families, friends, and community. Embracing inclusivity, "Rhythms of Resilience" welcomes veterans of all musical backgrounds, requiring no prior experience. Our program cultivates a supportive and empowering environment where every individual can participate at their comfort level, making music and forging connections. The inherent flexibility of group drumming further allows for seamless integration of other powerful art forms, including spoken word, rap, dance, and song, offering multi-modal avenues for creative expression.
The benefits of this program are profound and multifaceted, aligning directly with the objectives of creative forces that foster holistic well-being. Actively engaging in rhythms and musical improvisation stimulates crucial cognitive functions, enhancing memory, attention, and concentration, while promoting mental agility. Beyond the cognitive, the act of creating music empowers veterans to find their authentic voice, express themselves with newfound confidence, and experience a significant boost in self-esteem.
Extensive research underscores the therapeutic efficacy of drumming, demonstrating its remarkable ability to mitigate stress, anxiety, and depression. For veterans, in particular, group drumming offers a potent avenue for increased connectedness, empowers them to regain a sense of agency and control, and provides invaluable "drumming out of rage" outlet for processing intense emotions in a healthy, constructive manner. As an inherently collective endeavor, drumming organically cultivates robust social bonds, facilitating open communication and a profound sense of community. This artistic intervention directly addresses the critical emotional and social needs of our veterans, providing crucial support for their successful transition to civilian life and promoting lasting resilience. This initiative represents a powerful fusion of arts and healing, offering veterans a vital pathway to empowerment and belonging.