October 2010

Midwest Clinic to Recognize Stars of Music Education

The Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference congratulates the recipients of its 2010 awards: Jim Catalano (Music Industry Award), L. Dean Angeles (Medal of Honor), Frank B. Wickes (Medal of Honor), and Paula A. Crider (Medal of Honor). The awards will be presented during the 64th Annual Midwest Clinic (December 15-18, 2010, McCormick Place West, Chicago, Illinois).

The Midwest Clinic Music Industry Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding support of music education through their work in the music industry. The Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor is given to conductors, composers, educators, and others whose unique service to music education and continuing influence on the development and improvement of bands and orchestras deserve special recognition.

A list of previous honorees can be found at www.midwestclinic.org.

Fender Music Foundation’s New Leadership

Hamid “Gadget” Hopkins has been appointed Chairman of the Board for the Fender Music Foundation. West L.A. Music’s senior account manager joined the board in June 2008 and is the second chairman in the foundation’s history. He replaces foundation founder Larry Thomas, who remains as an active board member.

Thomas, founder of the music education charity, had served as chairman since the foundation’s inception in 2005. At the time, the organization was named the Guitar Center Music Foundation, as Thomas had recently retired as co-CEO of Guitar Center Inc. Thomas is the current CEO of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC).

Also voted onto the board at the foundation’s September board meeting were Bruce Ross, CFO of Robbins Brothers, returning to the board after a hiatus; Laurel Kaufman, CEO of Los Angeles Consulting Group; and three executives from FMIC director of entertainment marketing Del Breckenfeld, senior vice president of marketing Fender brands Richard McDonald, and senior vice president of marketing and communications Jason Padgitt.

To learn more about the foundation, visit www.fendermusicfoundation.org.

NAMM Foundation Supports Americans for the Arts National Arts Roundtable

The NAMM Foundation sponsored and participated in the fifth annual Americans for the Arts National Arts Policy Roundtable at the Sundance Institute on September 24, featuring a gathering of people from various professions and backgrounds who care about advancing the arts nationwide.

This year’s roundtable drew 30 participants to the Sundance Institute, a non-profit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981 that supports people involved in the arts. Representatives at the event ranged from young musicians and film directors to chairs of television network stations and presidents of corporations and nonprofit organizations. Redford and Robert Lynch, president and CEO of the Americans for the Arts, are the co-conveners of the annual event.

This year’s topic was “The Role of the Arts in Educating America for Great Leadership and Economic Strength,” and encouraged discussion about how the arts can create vibrant learning environments that engage students by unlocking their creative potential and building the confidence that helps them succeed.

To find out more, visit www.namm.org.

LaChapelle Joins Symphony Publishing

Symphony Publishing is pleased to welcome Jason LaChapelle as its new sales and marketing manager. In this newly created position Jason will be responsible for business development, branding and digital content creation for School Band and Orchestra and its sister magazines, MMR, JAZZed and Choral Director. Jason comes to Symphony from the Avedis Zildjian Co., where he held the position of marketing communications manager. An avid guitarist, Jason received his BM from Berklee College of Music as a Music Business Major, and his MBA from the Boston University School of Management. He lives in Boston’s South End with his wife and his passions include everything from Parker to Pearl Jam with a little golf, skiing, and running mixed in. Jason can be reached at [email protected].

Yamaha & Disneyland Celebrate Longstanding Partnership

Marking its 50th anniversary in the United States, Yamaha Corporation of America has renewed its status as the Official Supplier of Musical Instruments to the Disneyland Resort. Yamaha will continue to provide a broad range of instruments for use by the resort’s performers and continue its music education partnership.

Yamaha’s formal partnership with Disneyland Resort, located in Anaheim, Calif., dates to 2005, but the companies have had a long and fruitful relationship stretching back 20 years. In recognition of that partnership, Takuya Nakata, president, Yamaha Corporation of America presented George A. Kalogridis, president of Disneyland Resort, with a special plaque commemorating Yamaha’s 50th year in the United States.

Yamaha provides instruments and equipments for Disney performers and venues, as well as the many thousands of students who participate in the Disney Performing Arts program and the college bands students who join the Disneyland All-American College Band.

In addition, Yamaha has co-sponsored several podcasts, contests, and concert series in conjunction with Disney, including a four-concert presentation broadcast live on Yamaha’s multimedia Web portal, The Hub.

For more information, email•[email protected].

Grammy Signature Schools Awards Now Accepting Applications

The Grammy Signature Schools Enterprise Award provides special awards and cash grants to public high school music programs across the country based primarily upon need. Grants range from $1,000 – $5,000. As the GrammyAward signifies excellence in recording, GRAMMY Signature Schools is designed to honor exceptional public high school music programs across the country.

To apply for the 2011 Grammy Signature Schools Enterprise Award, visit www.grammyintheschools.com.

Competition Begins for Top Black College Marching Bands

The Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase is a platform to highlight and showcase the heritage and showmanship of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) college marching bands and an important facet of HBCU culture music education. Scheduled to take place on January 29, 2011, the Invitational Showcase gives HBCU marching bands a once in a lifetime opportunity to perform before 60,000 fans at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, and also gives them the chance to earn much-needed funding for their school’s music education programs. For the 2011 program, each of the 45 bands participating in the preliminary Celebration Tour will receive a $1,000 grant for their music programs, with an additional $20,000 awarded to the eight institutions selected to advance to the 2011 Invitational Showcase.

For more information about the Honda Battle of the Bands and a list of participating bands please visit, www.hondabattleofthebands.com.

Festival of Bands USA

The 23rd annual Festival of Bands USA was held on October 2 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The event is organized and staffed by parents and band directors from Sioux Falls and features bands from South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wyoming. This year’s lineup featured 34 bands on parade and 24 bands in field preliminaries. There was also a parade that traveled thorough downtown Sioux Falls, with judging taking place on the route.

During the parade and preliminaries, bands competed in four classes for rating and ranking, with judges offering evaluation and commentary to the competitors. Trophies were awarded to the top three bands in each class. At the finals, the 10 bands competed in one class for the top five places.