LINCOLNVILLE – A standing-room-only crowd packed Dot's on Route 1 in Lincolnville on Saturday, March 31, where students from the Midcoast Music Academy performed a "Showcase." Tom Ulichny, founder and executive director of Midcoast Music Academy, said that the intermediate and advanced students perform on their own with no instructor support.

"We're all her to cheer them on and to hear some great music," said Ulichny. "We're experiencing growth and community support for what we're doing and I'm really humbled by the great turnout today."

Dot's donated a portion of the day's proceeds to MCMA.

"Basically we cover 70 percent of our operating cost through tuitions," he said. "That leaves a lot to raise and we're grateful Dot's not only gave us a place to play, but donated a portion of proceeds to our cause."

Paul Benjamin, founder of the the North Atlantic Blues Festival, was in the audience. Ulichny said his relationship with Benjamin goes back six years with the formation of the academy.

"He has been an incredible supporter," Ulichny said. "With our summer camps we have a blues intensive class and he allows our students open up the festival on Saturday and Sunday."

Benjamin said that for the past two years, this being the third, the MCMA gets a 20-minute set to open the festival. Benjamin said he also has an artist come in a day early to spend time with the students at the blue’s camp.

Susie Barnes is the owner of Dot's, and said she was thrilled to have the MCMA visit her.

"They do a great thing for arts in the community," she said. "It was fantastic to see everybody in here listening and filling up the space."

Barnes has owned Dot's since last October. She was the former owner of the Waterworks Restaurant in Rockland.

"I'm a local person," she said. "I owned the Waterworks and my parents owned schooners. My brother has two schooners in Rockland. I love this location, it's a great community and everyone is very supportive. It warms your heart."

MCMA offers expert group and private instruction on a variety of instruments and vocals.

"These students have progressed and we want more performance opportunities," he said. "Students will perform two, three or four numbers all on their own."

The Academy is at 279 Park St. in Rockland.

MCMA has distributed more than 60 scholarship awards totaling approximately $50,000 to committed Midcoast students. The majority of support for the scholarship program has come from small individual gifts from over 200 donors, most of whom are members of the Midcoast.

Ulichny graduated magna cum laude from Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Tom now makes his home in the Midcoast, and is in full pursuit of a lifelong dream through the founding of the Midcoast Music Academy in Rockland.

For Dot's, enjoy their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DotsMarket/