The idea for an audio lab came about after Willa Needham ’24 took a Modern Ensemble course during her senior year. The class, led by Director of Band, Jazz & Music Tech Brad Davis, opened her eyes to pushing boundaries in making music.

“Mr. Davis encourages students to think outside the box,“That push he gives to move beyond what’s conventional and stretch your talents opens up new possibilities for everyone.”
-Willa needhamSeeing the impact that music had on their daughter’s learning journey, Willa’s parents Robyn and Dan decided to make a gift to Cannon to honor Mr. Davis and the impact he had on artists like Willa. “We want all departments of the school to benefit from this gift, not just the music aspect,” says Robyn. Inclusion and innovation align with the Needham family values and Robyn hopes the audio lab will provide a legacy for Cannon to keep shaping and spreading those values.