Carver High School launches student-led record label

George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science in the School District of Philadelphia launched it’s own record label — Carver Records — during the pandemic to help students get real-world experience in music production. According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the idea for a districtwide label came from Andy Hurwitz, a music entrepreneur and founder of the nonprofit 30AmpCircuit — which supports musicians and artists of all mediums. Frank Machos, the district’s executive director of arts and creative learning, suggested Hurwitz start by launching a label at just one school. Amyronn DesVignes-Pope and Devon Curtis, Hurwitz’s childhood friends and energetic business partners in the production company We Workin’ Entertainment, decided on Carver, Curtis’s and DesVignes-Pope’s alma mater. The trio of professionals have donated their time and expertise to the school, and additional merchandise the school needed was also donated.

Over 40 students met weekly via Zoom throughout the school year to work on the label. Although the project is supported by teachers, it is led by students, who handle responsibilities that range from marketing and promotion to technical and creative matters. The label recently distributed it’s first single, “Never Change,” on Symphonic, an independent digital music distributor. Recent Carver graduates Caleb Autry, who executive-produced the single, and Amoya Donaldson, who served as head of social media and marketing, have committed to mentoring current Carver students to ensure the label continues.