Grammy Music Education Coalition Announces Nashville, Philadelphia Commitments

Pictured (L-R): Paul Katz, CEO/Founder Entertain Impact; Tarik Ward, Director of Music Programs, ELMA Music Philanthropies, GMEC Board Member; Lee Whitmore, Executive Director, GMEC; Brenda Robinson, Entertainment Attorney, Swanson Martin & Bell LLP, GMEC board member; Macy Gray, artist; Charyn Harris, Executive & Artist Logistics at Macy Gray Inc.

The Grammy Music Education Coalition (GMEC) has announced its 2019 plans which includes an All-Star Ambassador program and the launch of intensive programs in Philadelphia and Nashville.

This year, the GMEC is focused on funding and services for Nashville and Philadelphia public school systems, with a goal to invest $1 million in each district during the inaugural year, while overseeing and coordinating programs of its coalition partners. The Nashville investment includes an elementary music coach, a program coordinator, and professional development through spring/summer music and audio technology events for all teachers.

The coalition aims to invest $5 million into each of these two districts over the next three years.

The GMEC partners range from the The Grammy Museum and The Recording Academy to the NAMM Foundation (National Association of Music Merchants), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Little Kids Rock, VH1 Save the Music Foundation and the Lang Lang International Music Foundation (full list below).

Starting this spring, the GMEC will launch an All-Star Ambassador program consisting of a diverse group of musicians who all have personal connections to music education and have committed to spreading awareness and raising funds for music education. Bebe Rexha will embark on a national campaign, created by Havas, in the spring. Additional GMEC Ambassadors include Rita Ora, Kristin Chenoweth, Stephen Marley, Luis Fonsi, Caroline Jones, Lang Lang, Matt Sorum, Mindi Abair, Regina Spektor and rock band War on Drugs.

“The GRAMMY Music Education Coalition is thrilled to be celebrating universal music education participation by American elementary, middle and high school students,” said Executive Director Lee Whitmore. “Today, we join with our GMEC member and partner, the GRAMMY® Museum Foundation, to inspire a future vision for careers and the arts for young people from around the Los Angeles area.”

The GMEC is also announcing its Founders Circle, Board members, and Executive Advisory Council.

Founders Circle Members
• The Dancing Tides Foundation
• The ELMA Music Foundation
• HARMAN
• Walker Family Foundation
• Wells Fargo Foundation

Board
• Roger Brown
• Richard Foos
• Jon Harris
• Neil Portnow
• Brenda Robinson
• Rusty Rueff
• Jeff Walker
• Tarik Ward
• Cheryl Zimlich

Executive Advisory Council
• Monique Felder
• Ruby Marchand
• Philip Nicol
• Susan Nesbit
• Ami Spishock

Active and pending Coalition members:
• GRAMMY Museum Foundation
• Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation
• Rock and Roll Forever Foundation
• Adopt the Arts Foundation
• The 39th Experience
• Berklee City Music
• Berklee College of Music
• Bohemian Foundation
• Conagra Brands
• David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation
• The ELMA Philanthropies Services Inc.
• Entertain IMPACT
• Ghetto Youths Foundation
• GRAMMY® Museum
• Lang Lang International Music Foundation
• Little Kids Rock
• Metro Nashville Public Schools
• The Musicians Foundation
• Musicians Institute
• NAfME
• NAMM
• NAMM Foundation
• Nat King Cole Generation of Hope
• Patti and Rusty Rueff Foundation
• Quadrant Research
• Recording Academy
• School District of Philadelphia
• Shout! Factory
• Sony / ATV Music Publishing
• VH1 Save The Music Foundation
• Walker Family Foundation
• Warner Music Group

Ambassador corps:
• Bebe Rexha
• Caroline Jones
• Fitz and The Tantrums
• Kristin Chenoweth
• Lang Lang
• Luis Fonsi
• Matt Sorum (Guns n’ Roses)
• Mindi Abair
• Noelle Scaggs
• Stephen Marley
• Regina Spektor
• Rita Ora
• War on Drugs

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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