RSS Feed
The latest from Jimmy Carter in Nashville: More on Brad Paisley at ...
NASHVILLE - The business and music communities of Nashville are supporting the dreams of 40 music students from the W.O. Smith/Nashville Community School of Music, by funding a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington, D.C., and a special concert series and educational workshop at the White House, hosted by the President and First Lady.
"The students at W.O. Smith School are awed by the opportunity to see our nation's capital and to visit the White House for this special music education program," said Jonah Rabinowitz , Executive Director of the W.O. Smith School.
According to the White House, the purpose of the music series is to celebrate the arts and demonstrate the importance of arts education. The music series launched with a jazz theme last month and will feature classical music this fall. Country Music is the theme of the event July 21.
The Country Music event includes an educational component for 120 young musicians, including the group from W.O. Smith School, in the afternoon, and a concert and reception in the evening. The educational workshop brings students to the White House to celebrate this uniquely American art form and learn directly from Country Music stars and musicians about the origins of the music and the craft of songwriting. The event culminates with performances by Alison Krauss and Union Station , and Brad Paisley .
In addition to the White House event on July 21, the W.O. Smith School student musicians are scheduled to meet U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Nashville), sit in on the House of Representatives while it is in session, and visit monuments on the National Mall.
The excursion would not be possible without the generous support of the greater Nashville community. The Country Music Association is underwriting all travel costs for the students with funds from CMA Music Festival and "Keep the Music Playing," which supports music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools. To date, CMA has donated more than $2 million to purchase instruments and fund music programs for Metro's 74,000 students.
...