LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (January 13, 2017) – Little did Ohio students from Wadsworth High School know, as they finished up an exciting Disney Performing Arts workshop Friday at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Performance Hall at Walt Disney World Resort, that the next inspiring words they would hear would come from five-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town (Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Philip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook). In a surprise visit that was part of Give a Note Foundation’s 2017 Music In Our Schools Tour, the superstar Country quartet shared their own experiences with music education and the importance of music in the lives of all students.
This was the most exciting kickoff event to-date for the now fourth annual Music In Our Schools – Music Inspires Tour. This event, founded by the Give a Note Foundation, an affiliate of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), continues to grow each year thanks to the generosity of contributors such as Disney Performing Arts, Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country, and now the CMA Foundation.
“Music education is a right of every student,” said Fairchild. “It helps them develop creativity and self-expression. It builds skills like collaboration and critical thinking that help them succeed in life. For me, my music teacher in high school pushed me out on stage for the very first time to sing a solo, and it changed my life. So I’m very grateful for music education and the power that it had on my career.”
The band’s words of wisdom aligned perfectly with the theme of the workshop, “Disney Sings,” in which students are immersed in a “real world” performance experience and record a portion of a Disney film soundtrack.
“I cried when I saw them walk in. I’m a really big country music fan, and so they have been some of my idols. I love listening to their music,” said Claire Doyle, choir student of Wadsworth High School.
“Thanks to our generous partners who have worked tirelessly with Give a Note,” said Jane Mell Balek, Give a Note CEO, “the Foundation has been able to bring music into the lives of more students every year. In its five years, Give a Note has provided over $1.2 million in grants to reach more than 45,000 students in underserved communities across the United States. And we cannot wait to see the incredible impact this year’s Music In Our Schools Tour will have.”
“Every year the launch of the Music In Our Schools Tour at Walt Disney World Resort grows bigger and more exciting,’’ said Terry Dola, Disney Performing Arts vice president of group sales and marketing. “It was a thrill of a lifetime for these students to spend time with such an award-winning group such as Little Big Town, and it’s another example of the kinds of extraordinary experiences students receive with Disney Performing Arts.’’
Six schools will receive a $2,500 grant from Give a Note Foundation, which will be matched by the CMA Foundation. Additionally, Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country will join in celebrating the talented students with select hosted performances.
- Ramona High School, Riverside, CA
- Joliet Central High School, Joliet, IL
- Salina South Middle School, Salina, KS
- James Otis Elementary School, Boston, MA
- Tar River Elementary School, Franklinton, NC
- Wenatchee High School, Wenatchee, WA
To learn more about Give a Note Foundation and the Music In Our Schools Tour, visit www.giveanote.org and follow the hashtag #MusicInspires. Be sure to follow the Tour on Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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Media contacts:
For Give a Note Foundation
Lindsay Sheldon
LindsayS@giveanote.org
(703) 860-4000 ext. 230
For CMA Foundation:
Courtney Beebe
cbeebe@CMAworld.com
615-244-2840
For Disney Performing Arts
Geoffrey Pointon
Geoffrey.pointon@disney.com
407-566-7198
About the Give a Note Foundation:
Since 2011, Give a Note Foundation has conducted national awareness campaigns and raised funds to support and strengthen music education programs across the U.S. The programs have reached millions of parents and students and provided more than $1 million in direct grants to schools. Learn more about Give a Note Foundation at www.giveanote.org. Help give the gift of music! Text “MusicEd GNF” to 20222 to donate $10! Message & Data Rates May Apply. Details: http://www.giveanote.org/giving/. You can follow Give a Note on Twitter www.twitter.com/giveanote, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/giveanote.
About the CMA Foundation:
CMA created the nonprofit 501(c)(3) CMA Foundation in 2011. Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, the CMA Foundation focuses on improving and sustaining music education programs everywhere while supporting worthwhile causes important to the Country Music Association. In 2017, the CMA Foundation has earmarked a record $3.1 million to 44 in- and after-school music education programs across the country, bringing the Foundation’s total contributions to date to $17.5 million.
About Disney Performing Arts:
In the past 60 years, Disney Youth Programs has brought millions of students from across the nation and around the world to participate in its popular education and performing arts programs at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Through Disney Performing Arts and Disney’s Youth Education Series, Disney Youth Programs unlock student potential and help aspiring students make their dreams come true through educational workshops, professional-style performances and other unique experiences that students can’t get anywhere else except at Disney.
