Breaking Barriers With Beats

Two separate doors, tucked into an unassuming corner at the back of a strip mall, open to a world of creative expression. Anthem Music Enterprises opened its doors five years ago and has cultivated a community of artists united by a powerful goal: using music to combat the mental health crisis by reimagining the way independent artists create, inspire and entertain locally.

Driven by a desire to reshape the music industry’s narrative, Anthem Music Enterprises’ CEO, TerryJosiah Sharpe cofounded the company with a clear mission shaped by his own experiences. “I know what the release of music is and how powerful that is. And how, when you activate that for one person, the ripple effect that has on the larger community,” he stated.

Anthem Music Enterprises operates through three core pillars of its mission: education, artist development, and live events. The education pillar is rooted in a desire to reach the next generation through programs designed to “be digestible for them, palatable for them, but also not just, like, in one ear and out the other. Something that they can apply in their everyday lives,” TerryJosiah explained. “So that was why The Music House program got built.”

The Music House offers summer and winter camps, alongside after school programs, specifically designed for students between the ages of 12 and 19. They have also partnered with Community Prep School, an alternative high school in Colorado Springs, to establish a dedicated course called “The School of Rap.” The true measure of their success lies in the profound impact it has on the young people it serves. Cadence Clausell and Liam Ratican, both 17 and students at Community Prep School, have both been inspired by The Music House.

Initially describing herself as “a very quiet person,” Cadence, whose artist name is Cadence Pearl, found that music has made her more comfortable expressing how she feels. It has become a therapeutic tool, a way to process sadness, anger, or any emotion. “Even just listening to music … it’s just a better way for me to express myself.” Cadence connected with the program following the tragic death of fellow Community Prep School student Miguel “Smalls” Romero.

Miguel was a vibrant member of The Music House program, and his passing deeply shook everyone who knew him. Cadence observed how the shared grief, partly channeled through spaces like The Music House, connected and strengthened the school’s sense of community. “The studio, it just gives us a voice to … just communicate to other people how we feel and how many other people are feeling,” she said.

While Cadence sings, raps, and writes lyrics, she also enjoys simply being in the studio and listening as others create. She hopes her own music inspires resilience, “I just kind of want to give the world a piece of me. And even if it’s in a negative way, even if it’s trauma or things like that, just see that you can go through things, but you can also overcome them. And even if you can’t overcome them, you can express yourself,” she said.

The Music House welcomes students at all levels, inviting exploration across various creative avenues. Some arrive with clear artistic goals, while others are still discovering their path. Where Cadence recently found her voice, Liam has been honing his skills in music production.

“It’s like making the song without the lyrics,” explains Liam, “And then I also mix and master, which is like making the song sound good after it’s already been made.” For Liam, music provides more than just a creative outlet; it is a healthy and constructive focus at school, in the studio, and at home. He treats it like a job, but “a job that I enjoy doing.” This focus has placed his life on a more positive path. “Instead of making bad decisions, I can just make music.” His dedication is paying off. A track he produced, “Drip,” is featured on the NBA 2K video game soundtrack.

The students are guided by experienced mentors like Dominick Williams, known as Dom or by his artist name, Dom Lavon. A producer and music director who comes from a family with deep musical roots, Dom is an expert in the industry with a passion for authentic connection. “Mentorship is building relationships,” he shared, “and I think music is just relationships, and love out loud is what we’re hearing.”

Dom became a full-time music entrepreneur during COVID and connected with Anthem Music Enterprises about two years ago. His role touches on all three pillars through live event production, work with the students and artist development.

In his role with students, Dom views himself as a guide, using questions to help them navigate their emotions. “This is a healthy outlet for a lot of these kids that may be going through stuff in the streets, maybe going through a hard time at home, may not have had the best day at school,” he explains. “So we’re just here to guide their feelings and to communicate that in a healthy way and to express that musically.”

The tangible result of these programs and mentorships is the student’s album, “The Music House Presents: School of Rap Volume 1.” Miguel’s voice lives on his track, “Survivor’s Guilt,” which closes the album. Miguel has been an anchor point throughout the project, and his legacy continues through scholarships offered by the Miguel Romero Legacy Fund for The Music House programs.

Anthem Music Enterprises continues its creative work with an expansion to Denver, but Colorado Springs remains central to the company and its relationships. “Community is simply us yelling out ‘come unite,’” TerryJosiah explained. “And we get to camouflage that message through music. And not everybody gets to do that … music is our language, and, by using music, we’ve built an incredible community so far.”