CMA Foundation Supports NYC Music Education

(L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Darius Rucker; Peter Pauliks, Education Through Music Dir. of Programs; Katherine Damkohler, Education Through Music Exec. Dir.; Little Big Town. Photo: Kevin Yatarola, CMA

The CMA Foundation donated $125,000 to benefit music education programs for New York City’s public school students through a partnership with Education Through Music (ETM), a non-profit provider of music education to NYC schools. The presentation of the grant was made yesterday (Sept. 3) during a press conference at the Best Buy Theater in New York to announce the final nominees for The 48th Annual CMA Awards.

To date, the CMA Foundation has awarded nearly $10 million to organizations that support music education across the United States. The funds are donated on behalf of the artists who support CMA Music Festival each June, meeting fans and performing for free.

Also while in New York City, CMA hosted a songwriting master class with music educators Tuesday morning at Joe’s Pub. More than 20 teachers participated in the class, featuring a Q&A session with CMA Board member and Songwriters Hall of Fame member Bob DiPiero as he discussed the impact music education had on his creative development.

Bob DiPiero speaks to Education Through Music’s music educators during a songwriting master class hosted by CMA Tuesday morning at Joe’s Pub in New York City.