The CMA Foundation Provides $100,000 Grant to Complete VH1 Save The Music Foundation Instrument Campaign
NASHVILLE – The CMA Foundation and VH1 Save The Music Foundation joined musical forces and combined resources to support music education in Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS).
To celebrate the completion of funding music education programs offered in RCPS, Hunter Hayes will be the special guest at a special ticketed concert tonight showcasing the talents of 450 student musicians representing the elementary, middle, and high school instrumental music programs across the district. Hayes, a multi-instrumentalist and CMA Award winner, will speak on the impact of music in his life and the importance of keeping music education programs in schools.
“The CMA Foundation is very proud to be part of this important initiative,” said Sarah Trahern, Chief Executive Officer of CMA. “We are excited to partner with VH1 to help bring music education programs to students in Roanoke, and hopefully create in these students a life-long appreciation for music.”
The celebration event takes place tonight (6:30PM) at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre at the Berglund Center (formerly the Roanoke Civic Center) Roanoke, Va. David Stewart Wiley, music director and conductor of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, will conduct the high school orchestra at the event.
After a five-year partnership with RCPS, a longtime goal of providing access to instrumental music education programs for students’ in Roanoke was finally achieved due to the support of the CMA Foundation’s $100,000 grant. With 17 grantee schools and $510,000 worth of musical instruments donated to date, complete restoration of Roanoke’s music programs is cause to celebrate.
“Roanoke City Public Schools is an exciting success story,” said Paul Cothran, Vice President and Executive Director of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. “Through a successful partnership with the district, we have met our goal together by ensuring that every child in Roanoke has equity in access to music education. With great support from our parent companies Viacom and VH1 along with generous commitments from the CMA Foundation and the Foundation for Roanoke Valley, instrumental music has been returned to the final five remaining schools with need.”
To date, the CMA Foundation has awarded more than $10 million to organizations that support music education across the United States. The funds are donated on behalf of the artists who participate in CMA Music Festival each June, meeting fans and performing for free.
CMA created the nonprofit (501C3) CMA Foundation in 2011. The Foundation exists to provide financial support to worthwhile causes that are important to CMA and the Country Music community. The group places special emphasis on serving the needs of CMA’s core constituents and nonprofit organizations with initiatives that preserve the legacy of the format, support music education, and respond to other needs identified by CMA.
For more information, visit CMAworld.com.
About VH1 Save The Music Foundation: The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is committed to ensuring that music instruction is a core component to a complete education. Since 1997, the Foundation has partnered with more than 1,900 public schools in 231 school districts to give children the tools and confidence to excel in academics and in life. #PassTheNote and get involved at vh1savethemusic.org join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Roanoke City Public Schools: Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS) is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains in what is affectionately known as the Star City of the South. With an enrollment of nearly 13,500 students, the mission of the school system is to graduate students, prepare them for a rapidly changing world, and to be model for urban public education.
About Hunter Hayes: Four-time GRAMMY nominee and CMA Award-winning artist Hunter Hayes is a Nashville-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who roared onto the music scene in 2011 with his Platinum-selling, No. 1 self-titled debut album. With three No. 1 singles under his belt, including “Wanted,” “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” and “I Want Crazy”, Hayes delves deeper on his new album, Storyline. It’s new single “Tattoo” is already Top 30-and-climbing. Hayes is currently on his Tattoo (Your Name) Tour. Visit www.hunterhayes.com or follow @HunterHayes.