CMA Foundation, Country Artists Will Advocate For Music Education

The CMA Foundation, Kristian Bush, Charlie Worsham, and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) will discuss music education with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., on Thursday (June 23).

Representatives for the CMA Foundation will include: Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Joe Galante, CMA Foundation Chairman and CMA Board Member; and Jennie Smythe, CMA Board Member. The organizations will advocate for complete, high-quality music programs for all students as part of NafME’s annual “Hill Day” for music education.

The day’s events will begin at Hart Senate Office Building for a short morning briefing, during which Bush and Worsham will offer remarks, and an awards ceremony, honoring Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) for his work on behalf of music education.

The CMA and the CMA Foundation have contributed more than $13.6 million to support quality, sustainable music education programs across the country. The CMA Foundation set a record in 2016 with $2.6 million in charitable gifts to music education initiatives, including a $150,000 research grant to Give a Note Foundation, an affiliate of NAfME.

CMA created the nonprofit (501C3) CMA Foundation in 2011 as the charitable giving arm of CMA. Funds for the Foundation are provided by CMA on behalf of the hundreds of artists who perform and make appearances during CMA Music Festival for free.