Press Release: Sam Holmstock and Joe Diggs Recipients of Community Impact Awards

At the annual board meeting of the Old Colony YMCA held at Camp Yomechas, 375 Wareham Street, Middleboro, MA, Artist/Educators Sam Holmstock and Joe Diggs were honored with a Community Impact Award for their work in Art and Music education with juvenile justice involved teens on Cape Cod. As working artists and faculty members of Cotuit Center for the Arts, Joe and Sam have dedicated their time and professional expertise in the effort to help these teens move through their trauma and find their creative voice. Cotuit Center for the Arts—Arts Partner with the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services in Brewster—has run the Program for five years.

Recognized for their ability to create and modify their teaching approaches to art and music to meet the needs of committed or detained youth, Sam and Joe were honored with 2018 Community Impact Awards.

Joe Diggswas born in Croix Chapeau, France to a military family that has supported his artistic and athletic focus. After graduating from Southeastern Massachusetts University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art Painting, Joe gained employment as a Flight Attendant with US Airways. He achieved a more international education through traveling the world and exploring art and artists in many different cultures. Recently he has completed a Masters of Fine Art Degree at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Sam Holmstockearned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Composition from Berklee College of Music. He continued his formal studies at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, New York where he studied Composition and Improvisation. He then focused on the study of World Percussion under many Master Drummers in New York, San Francisco and at The National School of Music in Havana, Cuba. He is one of the co-founders of the world fusion ensemble, ENTRAIN, and performed with this incredible group of talented musicians for 20+ years. In addition to his work with ENTRAIN, Sam has had the honor of playing music with artists such as Bo Diddley, Gil Scott-Heron, Kate and James Taylor, Bob Weir, and even Bill Clinton.

Currently Sam is the Principal Facilitator at DRUM STRATEGIES FOR HEALING, bringing drumming activities to the Special Needs Community.

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