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CMA Donates More than $1 Million to Nashville Public School Students from 2008 CMA Music Festival

Posted on: Wednesday, 4 March 2009, 18:30 CST

CMA's "Keep the Music Playing" Program Has Contributed More Than $2 Million To Fund Music Education Through a Partnership with The Nashville Alliance for Public Education

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- CMA is donating $1,011,294 to Nashville's more than 75,000 public school children from 2008 CMA Music Festival. CMA's "Keep the Music Playing" program funds music education in Metro Nashville in partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education (NAPE).

To date, CMA has now donated $2,245,421 in support of music education in public schools. This money has been used to build music labs and purchase instruments and much needed supplies in Metro Nashville Public Schools. The total also includes an endowment gift for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's "Words and Music" program, which assists language arts and music teachers with classroom instruction in the basics of songwriting.

"As an artist, it is gratifying to know that we can come together with our fans and raise more than one million dollars to benefit music education in Nashville," said Kix Brooks, artist (Brooks & Dunn) and Chairman of the CMA Artist Relations Committee. "As a CMA Board member, I am proud of how our industry can come together with the City of Nashville and produce such a monumental event that draws visitors from around the world while supporting such a great cause. It's all for the kids!"

"Kix is right - CMA Music Festival is all for the kids," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "Every artist started their career by having a dream to perform, usually from a young age. Many Metro Nashville students have dreams to perform as well. With encouragement and instruments, those dreams could take them to the biggest concert halls in the land, or keep them interested and involved in school while they discover their true passion in life. On behalf of our artists and industry, and through our partnership with the Alliance and Metro Nashville Public Schools, we believe in fulfilling those dreams by funding the best music education possible for the students in Music City USA."

CMA announced the donation today at its annual Artist Luncheon at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel during Country Radio Seminar (CRS). The presentation, hosted by Brooks, also featured Director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Dr. Jesse Register, student performers from John Overton High School and Mt. View Elementary, and student essayists from Isaiah T. Creswell Middle Arts Magnet School. In attendance were Co-Chairman of the CMA Artist Relations Committee Jay DeMarcus (of Rascal Flatts), artists who performed at past CMA Music Festivals, CMA Board members including Chairman Randy Goodman and President Steve Moore, Alliance Executive Director Pam Garrett, and CMA's President Elect Steve Buchanan, who also serves as the Association's representative on the Alliance Board of Directors.

"I am so thankful for the continued support that CMA has given to Nashville schools," said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. "Nashville is Music City, and to live up to our name, we should have among the best music education programs in the country. The program provides our schools with instruments and resources they otherwise wouldn't have. It's been shown that students who participate in the arts do better in school and are more likely to graduate, and the success of our students is greatly tied to the overall success of our city."

"The 'Keep the Music Playing' program is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when there is a strong partnership between the community and our schools," said Register. "The members of CMA recognized a need and responded with overwhelming generosity. Their commitment to music education in our schools has opened doors for many students who would not otherwise have had the opportunity to participate in a music program. We appreciate CMA, the fans who attend the CMA Music Festival, and the Nashville Alliance for Public Education for the substantial donation announced today and their unwavering commitment to music education in Nashville."

Artists perform at CMA Music Festival for free. To show its appreciation for their dedication and time, CMA donates half the net proceeds from the Festival to charity on their behalf. When the program began in 2001, it was known as CMA's "Cause for Celebration!" From 2001-2005 CMA contributed more than $800,000 to more than 100 worthy causes.

"The majority of our artists live in the Nashville area," said Genovese. "They are involved in the community and want to make a difference in the lives of the kids who go to school here. They know firsthand what music has done for their lives, and they know what it can do for these students."

Thirty one schools will benefit from the 2008 donation, including 21 schools who are receiving instruments from the "Keep the Music Playing" program for the first time. The other 10 schools are receiving their final instrument donations this year, as the program has successfully fulfilled all of their current needs.

Elementary: All elementary schools are first time recipients. The schools are: Alex Green Elementary, Cumberland Elementary, Henry Maxwell Elementary, Lakeview Elementary Design Center, McGavock Elementary, Mt. View Elementary, Shayne Elementary, Thomas A. Edison Elementary, and Tulip Grove Elementary.

Middle: First time recipient schools are: Brick Church Middle School, Cameron Middle School, Haynes Middle School Design Center, John Trotwood Moore Middle School, and Two Rivers Middle School.

Other middle schools receiving instruments include: Bailey Middle School, Isaac Litton Middle School, John F. Kennedy Middle School, Meigs Magnet School, Thurgood Marshall Middle School, and Wright Middle School.

High: First time recipient schools are: Antioch High School, Cane Ridge High School, Glencliff High School, Hillsboro High School, Maplewood High School, McGavock High School, and Whites Creek High School.

Other high schools receiving instruments included: Hillwood High School. Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School, John Overton High School, and Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet School.

"Every penny donated by the CMA Music Festival directly impacts Metro public school students whether through the instruments provided or the enhancement of music education programs offered," said Buchanan.

"This is the third year and the largest gift from CMA to 'Keep the Music Playing' in Nashville's Public Schools," said Garrett. "I kept counting and recounting! This year's gift will double what has been possible thus far bringing our totals to 2,124 instruments in 62 schools, including 21 first time recipients. This is an incredible effort and has made a huge dent in the need for instruments and students' opportunity to play, perform and reap the benefit of the arts as a proven strategy for academic excellence. We are fortunate that MNPS can support this initiative by providing music teachers in every school K-12."

The Nashville Alliance for Public Education was established in 2002 by a group of corporate and civic leaders with the goal of improving public education for Nashville's school children. Working in tandem with the Metro Nashville Public School Board and the Director of Schools, the nonprofit group identifies areas of need and channels private community resources toward those programs and schools, which serve Metro Nashville's more than 75,000 public school students in 137 Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.

"Every student should have the opportunity to receive music education," said Genovese. "CMA continues to work towards that goal. With the help of Mayor Dean, Jesse Register, the staff at Metro Schools, and Pam Garrett and the Alliance, as well as all the artists who perform and all the fans that purchase tickets for the Festival, we are moving closer to fulfilling that goal."

Today's announcement is the latest development in CMA's support for music education. Last September, CMA announced a $1 million dollar endowment, spread over a five year period in $200,000 annual increments, to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for their "Words and Music" program. "Words and Music" is designed to assist language arts and music teachers with classroom instruction in the basics of writing song lyrics. Teachers are provided with lesson plans, including a 10-song CD and accompanying lyric sheets licensed especially for the program. The Museum pairs students with volunteer professional songwriters who add melody to their compositions.

CMA Music Festival is an unparalleled music experience celebrating America's music. The event brings the community together with fans from around the world.

Now in its 38th year, CMA Music Festival will be held on Thursday through Sunday, June 11-14, in Downtown Nashville. Dubbed the "crown jewel of Country Music Festivals" by USA Today and winner of the International Entertainment Buyers Association's 2004, 2006, and 2008 LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year, the event features four jam-packed days of music with concerts, autograph signings, family activities, and more.

Tickets for 2009 CMA Music Festival are available now. To order, call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit www.CMAfest.com to download an order form to fax or mail; visit www.ticketmaster.com to buy online or charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000. Prices do not include applicable handling fees. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All sales are final and non-refundable.

For up-to-the-minute information about tickets, travel information, schedules, artist appearances, and more, visit www.CMAfest.com and sign up for the CMA Exclusive e-news.

SOURCE Country Music Association

Source: PR Newswire

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