As Frisco, Texas welcomes new leadership, Melody of Hope would like to take a moment to recognize and celebrate Mayor Cheney’s years of service and his lasting impact on the arts, music, and nonprofit communities across our city.
Throughout his time as mayor, Mayor Cheney consistently recognized the important role that music and the arts play in creating a vibrant, connected, and thriving community. His leadership helped elevate the arts as a priority in Frisco, creating new opportunities for local artists, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and residents to come together through creativity and collaboration.
Championing the Arts in Frisco
One of Mayor Cheney’s greatest contributions was his commitment to strengthening the arts ecosystem in Frisco. During his administration, the city’s investment in the arts grew significantly — moving from a time when arts funding was at risk of being eliminated to now supporting more than $300,000 in arts funding.
This growth reflected a belief that the arts are not simply an addition to a community, but an essential part of Frisco’s identity, economic development, and quality of life.
For organizations like Melody of Hope, this commitment helped create a community where local artists could be recognized, valued, and provided with greater opportunities to share their talents.
Helping Frisco Become a Music-Friendly Community
Mayor Cheney played an important role in helping Frisco earn its Music Friendly Community certification, recognizing the city’s commitment to supporting musicians, strengthening the local music economy, and creating opportunities for artists to thrive.
This milestone closely aligned with Melody of Hope’s mission: amplifying artists through paid performance opportunities while using music to serve nonprofits, businesses, and the Frisco community.
By supporting initiatives that encourage live music and artist development, Mayor Cheney helped reinforce that musicians are an important part of Frisco’s culture and continued growth.
Bringing Live Music to the Frisco Community Through Music on Main
One of the most impactful community initiatives Mayor Cheney helped kick-start was Music on Main — a celebration of live music, community connection, and local talent in Frisco.
Music on Main represents what happens when a city invests in creativity. Local artists receive opportunities to perform, residents have a place to gather, and the community experiences the power of live music in a shared space.
This initiative reflects the impact of collaboration between city leadership, artists, nonprofits, businesses, and community members.
Connecting the Arts With Sports, Business, and Community
Mayor Cheney also helped create opportunities to connect the arts with other important parts of Frisco’s identity, including sports and corporate communities.
His leadership encouraged collaboration between organizations that may not have traditionally worked together, creating new opportunities for music and the arts to be integrated throughout the city.
These partnerships helped demonstrate that the arts are a vital part of a thriving community — bringing people together across industries, backgrounds, and interests.
A Meaningful Partnership With Melody of Hope
Mayor Cheney’s support extended beyond city initiatives. He consistently showed up for Melody of Hope events, advocated for our mission, and encouraged the work we do to create paid opportunities for local artists while serving nonprofits and residents.
Through partnerships like the Mayor’s Veterans Social at Melody of Hope Live, he helped use music as a way to honor veterans, build relationships, and bring the Frisco community together.
His continued presence and encouragement reminded us of the impact community leaders can have when they believe in the power of music.
“We are incredibly grateful for Mayor Cheney’s leadership and the way he embraced the role music and the arts can play in bringing people together. At Melody of Hope, we believe music is a gift from God that has the power to connect people, inspire hope, and create opportunities for others. Mayor Cheney recognized that power and consistently supported the vision of building a community where artists are valued, nonprofits are strengthened, and people are brought together through music. We are thankful for the partnership, encouragement, and lasting impact he has had on Frisco.”
— Charlie Welch, Founder & Executive Director, Melody of Hope
The Future of Music and the Arts in Frisco
As Frisco continues to grow, the future of music and the arts depends on continued collaboration between city leaders, artists, nonprofits, businesses, and residents.
Melody of Hope remains committed to building on the foundation that leaders like Mayor Cheney helped strengthen — creating opportunities for local artists, bringing people together through music, and serving the Frisco community through meaningful partnerships.
We look forward to continuing to collaborate with city leadership and community partners to ensure that music and the arts remain an important part of Frisco’s future.
Through continued investment in creativity, innovation, and connection, Frisco can continue to be a place where artists thrive, residents come together, and the arts help tell the story of our community.
Thank You, Mayor Cheney
Melody of Hope is incredibly grateful for Mayor Cheney’s years of service and his dedication to making Frisco, Texas a place where creativity, collaboration, and community can thrive.
His leadership helped strengthen the arts, support local musicians, and create opportunities for organizations like Melody of Hope to continue our mission.
Thank you, Mayor Cheney, for believing in the power of music and for investing in the artists and community members who make Frisco such a special place. Your leadership has helped create a lasting impact, and we are grateful for the role you played in strengthening our city’s arts community.
We wish you all the best in your next chapter.