Jackson Free Press

Peter Whitham is giving Mississippi musicians the opportunity to have their voices and instruments heard.

Whitman is the founder of The Mississippi Music Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides music education and preserves Mississippi's music. Last month, the foundation announced the Money Match program for artists to record and release an album at half the cost. The foundation accepts musicians into the program based on their talent and performing experience, and if accepted, matches 50 percent of the costs to record, mix and edit an album. Producers and engineers donate their time to help create the albums, providing the lower cost to musicians.

Whitman, a native of Malta, moved in Hernando in 2003 after spending his career as a concert pianist touring the United States. He started the foundation so the world could hear Mississippi's talented musicians.

"I call Mississippi the last frontier in the United States," he says. "Everything else is getting over populated, and it's just a different environment in Mississippi. There are a lot of musicians, and a lot of people started from here. The reason I started the foundation is because we want to preserve the music that is here."

After retiring as a musician 1988, Whitman worked as a music producer and started Qtrnote.com, a music-purchasing website. Now, he spends his time discovering unknown but talented musicians. Recently, 17-year-old classical pianist Andrew McCullough recorded at the foundation's studio in Hernando. The foundation also promotes music education in public schools.

"You have people that are sharecroppers, or have worked in little grocery stores downtown and happen to be a good singer, but just never had an opportunity," he says. "... Mississippi has talent all over the place."

Mississippi musicians interested in participating in the Money Match program can call 662-429-2939 or visit the Mississippi Music Foundation's website for more information.