The NAMM Foundation Sponsors the New Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium In Support of School Music Education

The NAMM Foundation announced today that it sponsored the first-ever Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium, an event that was created by musician Quincy Jones to bring together leaders from higher education, the nonprofit service sector and the music industry to explore ideas and strategies for expanding access to music education for all children.

The consortium was held April 29 at the Time Warner Center in New York City and was the first of two meetings that will be held in 2009. The event drew more than 60 national leaders in public policy, music and arts education and community-based music service programs.

The day-long agenda featured many presenters and moderators including Charles Best, founder and CEO of donorschoose.org; Laurie Lock, director of programming and policy at VH1 Save the Music; Robert Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts; John J. Mahlmann, executive director of MENC; Dr. Margaret Martin, founder of the Harmony Project; Larry Livingston, music director of the Thornton School Orchestras and director of education initiatives at Guitar Center; Barry Applewhite music curriculum specialist and principal at Milwaukee High School of the Arts; and Quincy Jones.

The goals of the Musiq Consortium are to:
•    Increase the percentage of children that are participating in school and afterschool music programs
•    Increase the quality and number of music educators in the United States as well as employment opportunities for those          who are best qualified
•    Via partnership with the participants, develop shared advocacy and funding initiatives for youth music programs.

“The NAMM Foundation believes that it is vital to advance access to music education so every child can experience the many developmental and social benefits of making music,” said Mary Luehrsen, executive director of the NAMM Foundation who led the advocacy portion of the event. “We are proud to collaborate on this project with the Quincy Jones Foundation and look forward to the many positive outcomes that this effort will bring.”

In its mission to advance active participation in music making, the NAMM Foundation has invited the Consortium to meet at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, Calif., in January 2010, to expand a national dialogue and assure that music is part of a quality education for all children.

About NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit organization with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry.  For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.