VH1 SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION GRANT RECIPIENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ATTEND WHITE HOUSE MUSIC SERIES 

Washington, D.C. (November 4, 2009) – On Wednesday, November 4th, 4 students from VH1 Save The Music Foundation grant recipient, Roanoke City Public Schools (Roanoke, VA) and 2 students from VH1 Save The Music Foundation grant recipient, Baltimore City Public Schools will participate in the White House Music Series in Washington D.C. To date, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation has granted $120,000 worth of new musical instruments to restore music education in 4 Roanoke public schools over the past year and $2,865,000 worth of new musical instruments to restore music education in 109 Baltimore public schools over the past 10 years.

“It is an honor to have the VH1 Save The Music Foundation grant recipient students participate in the White House music series,” said Paul Cothran, Executive Director of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. “To see the students faces as they enter the White House and watch Joshua Bell, Sharon Isbin, Alisa Weilerstein, and Awadagin Pratt perform for them will truly be rewarding. We are extremely grateful that the musicians are so open in sharing their journeys with music and inspiring the students to continue their music education and pursue their dreams.”

The purpose of the White House Music Series, which was created by First Lady Michelle Obama, is to celebrate the arts and demonstrate the importance of arts education to reinvigorate the creativity and innovation that has made this country great.  To remain competitive in the global economy, it is important to nourish children’s creative skills, in addition to science and math skills, and encourage the ability to think creatively, which is fostered by a meaningful arts education.

Tune into to a live stream on whitehouse.gov at 2:15 PM EST from the East Room where Mrs. Obama will introduce a Classical Music Student Workshop Concert featuring Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, Grammy Award-winning guitarist Sharon Isbin, renowned cellist Alisa Weilerstein, and acclaimed pianist Awadagin Pratt. The concert will also include child protégés Sujari Britt and Jason Yoder who will accompany Alisa Weilerstein in duets.
 
In the evening, Joshua Bell, Sharon Isbin, Alisa Weilerstein and Awadagin Pratt will perform in the East Room, where President Obama will make remarks. This concert will be streamed live on whitehouse.gov at 7:15 PM EST.

About the VH1 Save The Music Foundation
The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in America’s public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child’s complete education. Since 1997, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation has provided $43 million worth of new musical instruments, donated to more than 1,600 public schools in more than 100 cities around the country, impacting the lives of more than 1.2 million public school students. Now twelve years strong, it is our renewed commitment to donate one hundred million dollars worth of new musical instruments to ensure that even a greater number of students receive a comprehensive music education in the coming decade! To join the movement to First Make Music, Then Make History, visit www.vh1savethemusic.com.