CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 51 K ia Walker was seven years old when her father taught her to sing Whitney Houston's powerful version of "Greatest Love of All." Everyone who heard Kia knew she had talent. She knew something, too: She knew she loved music and even at that early age she knew she wanted it to "consume" her life. In the years since, music has become Walker's purpose and mission. With her husband, Skip, she owns, runs and teaches at e Blue Violin Music Education Center on Person Street in downtown Fayetteville. She is music director at Sharon Baptist Church in Smithfield. And she performs. On a recent CD, entitled "Troubadour," Walker sings a collection of hymns and original compositions. "Music is my life," Walker said. A native of Fayetteville, Walker cultivated her vocal talents throughout her youth. She also learned to play the violin and from fih grade on, was always first chair violin in her school orchestras. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Fayetteville State University and was encouraged by a professor to consider a career in music therapy. e practice uses musical rhythms and melodies to enhance people's learning capabilities. But Walker pursued music ministry, spurred by her religious faith and a desire to continue honing her musical abilities and teaching skills. She earned a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in church music from Campbell University. She then taught music for several years at Northwood Temple Academy's elementary school in Fayetteville. She also dreamed about opening her own music school but feared risking such a venture. en she saw a blue violin. Kia Walker saw the instrument hanging on the wall at Edwards Music Company and it caught her eye – and her imagination. She didn't buy the violin. Aer all, she hadn't played the instrument in a while. And she had been battling a shopping addiction. Buying the expensive violin then and there was out of the question. So, she said with a laugh, "I put it on layaway." She mentioned the violin to her husband. He went and bought it for her. Kia Walker saw the gi as a demonstration of her husband's belief in her capabilities and of his support of her musical pursuits. It encouraged her to take up the violin again. And it pushed her to act on her dream of opening a music school. On May 27, 2010 – her birthday – she signed the lease for the building that would come to house e Blue Violin. "It was the best birthday present ever," she said. Seven years later, e Blue Violin is going strong, teaching students at its location in downtown Fayetteville M U S I C Kia Walker Making Everything Better with Music BY CHERI TODD MOLTER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW WONDERLY

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