Our History

In 1999, “Music Room” Director, Robin Kaplan created the Bahama Village Music Program (BVMP) to honor Ellen Sanchez, whose retirement had left a void in the Bahama Village community. The program was originally located in a dressing room near the stage of the Fredrick Douglas Gym teaching ten students. BVMP relocated and expanded to the former Frederick Douglass Band Room (now the new health clinic) on February 19, 2002, and was dedicated with an unveiling of a statue of “Miss Ellen” commissioned by Ms. Joan Leggett, and named the room in Miss Ellen’s honor. The dedication was attended by her students, including Coffee Butler, parents, supporters, and a host of talented Key West musicians. A hurricane damaged the band room on Fort Street, BVMP relocated to the Fredrick Douglas Skills Center on Olivia Street where over 200 students per week receive free music lessons.

Founder Ellen Welters Sanchez

“Miss Ellen”, as many of her students called her, was born on Smith Lane in 1902. Her father, Frank Welters, was the band leader of the Welters Coronet Band. After learning piano at the Catholic Convent, Miss Ellen began teaching piano in 1919. She taught piano, wrote and composed music, including her original song, “The Beautiful Ilse of Key West”, which was written especially for President Harry Truman for the 1948 dedication of Truman Avenue. In 1969, Miss Ellen retired from formal teaching but continued a kindergarten class out of her home on Chapman Lane until 1998. Her many students over the years went on to be successful, especially her favorite piano student Lofton Ambrose Butler, better known as Coffee Butler.