FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Xina Yee
Phone: (818) 433-7600
Email: press@etmla.org
Website: www.etmla.org
Award-Winning Artists Celebrate the Continued Success of Education Through Music-Los Angeles at their Gala on Nov 30th which Honored NBCUniversal’s Mike Knobloch, Music Teacher Juan Rodriguez, and Why Not Incubator
The evening featured performances and appearances by GRAMMY® Award-nominated, and Multi-Platinum Artist Gavin DeGraw, Academy Award-Winning Actress Goldie Hawn, Remi Wolf, Harvey Mason jr., ETM-LA Choir Students, & other Special Guests
LOS ANGELES – Education Through Music-Los Angeles hosted their 17th Year Celebration Benefit Gala last night, the evening of Wednesday, November 30th, 2022 at the Skirball Cultural Center. The star-studded musical evening featured a celebration of three honorees: Mike Knobloch, President of Music and Publishing at NBCUniversal; Educational Leader Dr. Jacqueline Sanderlin of Why Not Incubator; and Juan Rodriguez, a Music Educator at Frost Middle School in Granada Hills, CA. ETM-LA recognized each of the honorees with a 2022 Shining Star Award, which is given annually to distinguished leaders whose musical contributions to the ETM-LA community have positively changed the lives of the youth.
Hosted by Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., the event featured performances and appearances by special guests including GRAMMY® Award-Nominated artist Gavin DeGraw (accompanied by BBE All Stars, as well as honoree Mike Knobloch for a special final performance of “Maybe I’m Amazed”), Academy Award-Winning actress Goldie Hawn, Remi Wolf, and a choir of students from two Los Angeles elementary schools, who performed “Just Sing” and “What A Wonderful World.” See gallery here.
Constantly championing youth education, the entire ETM-LA team believes that music education is a right that every student deserves access to, and continues to keep their vision at the core of their organization’s values. Honorary Chair Members of ETM-LA include Taylor Swift, Chris Martin, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, HAIM, Snoop Dogg, Anna Kendrick, Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, John Legend, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jennifer Hudson, Ryan Tedder, and Harvey Mason jr. Additional champions and past gala attendees include Ed Helms, Bono/U2, Chris Meledandri, Rickey Minor, Common, Cynthia Erivo, John Williams, Michael Giacchino, Christopher Lennertz, Brian Tyler, John Debney, Alan Menken, Blake Neely, Germaine Franco, Lorne Balfe, Zach Robinson, Arturo Sandoval, Steve Aoki, and J.J. Abrams.
Executive Director of ETM-LA Victoria Lanier shared her appreciation and pride in what the program has accomplished thus far. “I am deeply grateful for our Shining Star honorees and everyone who joined us in support of our 17th Year Benefit Gala,” she said. “We appreciate everyone’s efforts to further our mission to expand music education programs in under-resourced schools. It truly takes a village; and together, one school at a time, we are helping to ensure that all students can receive the life-changing benefits of music education to reach their fullest potential.”
Since its creation, the nonprofit organization has now reached approximately 19,000 students through 45 schools across Los Angeles County. They continue to partner with under-resourced schools in order to provide music as a core academic subject. The gala was ETM-LA’s largest to date, raising nearly $700,000 to further its mission.
Honoree Mike Knobloch noted how ETM-LA’s mission resonated with him on a personal level. “Can you imagine not having music classes in grade school?,” he reflected. “I can’t, and I wouldn’t be who I am today had music not been part of my education. ETM-LA is an amazing organization that has been making a real impact on so many students’ development for years. As ETM-LA’s Shining Star Artist honoree this year, I am genuinely honored and passionately committed to the important work that they do.”
By engaging both the parents and the community, ETM-LA prides itself on bringing music education to the forefront of learning. The 17th Year Celebration Benefit Gala is yet another example of the quality of work and support that goes into the entire ETM-LA community, and proves once again just how much they value authenticity and direct support for youth in under-resourced schools.
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Education Through Music-Los Angeles is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to provide and promote music in under-resourced schools as part of the core curriculum for every child in order to enhance students’ academic achievement, creativity, and overall development.
For more information: www.etmla.org