Remembering Christine Havrilla (1970–2025)
Christine Havrilla was a powerhouse force in the Mid-Atlantic music scene and beyond. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer, and composer, she fronted the vibrant band Christine Havrilla & Gypsy Fuzz.
Known for her signature, high-energy "trash guitar" style, live looping, and a genre she joyfully coined "Neofunkadelicfolkpoptwangrock," Christine captivated audiences for over 25 years. Her fierce independent spirit earned her a dedicated community of fans known affectionately as "The Rillage" and they supported her on her hard-fought path as a full-time performing singer-songwriter.
Even after a stage-four metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in 2020, Christine refused to let the music stop. She continued to write, record, and light up stages until she passed away in May 2025 in Milton, Delaware. Beyond her immense talent, Christine was a brilliant mentor and a welcoming, warm light who constantly championed other female artists and spent her life building a supportive community where independent music could thrive.
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Empowering Independent Women in Music: The Scholarship Mission
Navigating the modern music industry as an independent artist is an exhausting financial climb, and resources tailored specifically for working female musicians are rare. Recognizing these barriers, Frantic Music Project, Inc. established The Christine Havrilla Family Women in Music Scholarship to provide targeted micro-grants (up to $599) to independent, female-identifying musicians of all ages from the Mid-Atlantic area.
This program focuses on practical career growth to solve the real-world, everyday financial hurdles independent musicians face. By embracing a flexible, non-academic path, the scholarship honors Christine's own legacy as an independent creator. Selection preference is heavily weighted toward regional creators experiencing genuine economic hurdles—particularly those working or living within the State of Delaware.
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How Can The Scholarship Be Used?
Our focus is to directly invest in the essential resources required to sustain a lifelong musical career such as:
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Equipment Maintenance & Gear Servicing: Honoring the practical reality of a working musician’s life by funding the repair, setup, and maintenance of existing performance gear (e.g., guitar setups, amp tube replacements, repairing sound equipment) so an artist's core tools remain reliable and stage-ready.
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Touring & Travel Expenses: Easing the heavy financial burden of life on the road—where Christine spent so much of her life—by offsetting costs for van rentals, fuel, lodging, and travel logistics so artists can safely take their live shows to new audiences and markets.
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Professional Development & Education: Nurturing the business acumen behind the artistry by funding industry conference attendance, specialized music workshops, masterclasses, and professional coaching in songwriting, production, or arts management.
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Studio Recording & Production: Giving artists the financial support to capture and produce their original music to a professional standard through studio tracking time, mixing, and mastering services.
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New Equipment & Gear: Outfitting musicians with reliable instruments, effects pedals, and performance tools so they can deliver their best live sets.
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Website & Digital Branding: Helping artists establish a permanent, professional online home to grow their fanbases, manage digital portfolios, and sell merchandise.
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Promotion & Marketing Campaigns: Funding localized PR, music distribution fees, social media ad spend, and promotional asset creation to amplify independent voices and get their music heard.
Through these grants, Frantic Music Project ensures that Christine's grace, gratitude, fierce independent spirit, and community-driven heart continue to echo through the voices of successful female artists.
Frantic Music Project, Inc., was officially established in 2022, as a recognized 501(c)(3) charity. Frantic Frets Music & Antiques Co-owners, Mary and Alan Knight established the Milton-based organization after hosting programs like their ever-popular open mics, which were held continuously through the pandemic, in a safe and inclusive outdoor space at their home/shop.
At the onset of the pandemic, Al & Mary became aware of one local musician who was in need of help. Through a 3-day virtual concert fundraiser, hundreds of people engaged from their homes and donated to help this artist. Several other fundraising concerts for other artists who faced catastrophic life events were held, and to date, the Project has helped to raise and distribute over $200,000 for artists through financial aid, services, and equipment.
The mission of Frantic Music Project is to support local musicians, through meaningful programs and opportunities, and providing subsidized services and equipment. The project is also building a Catastrophic Relief Fund for Musicians, and launching 2 distinct artist scholarship funds. The first is the Christine Havrilla Family Women in Music Scholarship honoring Christine's legacy and life with her wife Brooke, parents John & Mary, sister Angela, pups and kitty Comet, Prancer, KiTTen, and of course her music family.
Frantic Music Project