“Some of the kids in the program have a hard shell to crack,” remarks Michael Longoria, Grounded in Music’s Program Director. “But as we mentor, teach, and share with them, the music dissolves that shell.”
(AUSTIN, Texas – January 2012) Country music stars Jack Ingram and Hayes Carll will be coheadlining at this year’s Grounded in Music 2012 Benefit Concert to raise funds for the organization’s music education program. This year’s event will be held at the Gibson Guitar Showroom in Austin on Wednesday, February 15 and doors will open at 6:30 p.m., kicking off with a performance by Grounded in Music students. The event is open to the public, and prior to the show, there will be a reception for all sponsors and pre-party ticket holders. Immediately following the concert, an after-party with Jack Ingram and Hayes Carll will be held for event sponsors.
General public tickets can be purchased online at www.frontgatetickets.com. Prices for general admission tickets are $35 and $50. All event proceeds will be used to purchase musical instruments for under-privileged youth, provide education in musicianship, teach music theory, as well as offer music-related opportunities outside of performance. Event sponsors include local ad agency 3Fingers, Taco Deli and The Austin Chronicle. For information on sponsor opportunities, contact mikelongoria@groundedinmusic.org.
“Grounded in Music has a very simple mission: to leverage the power of music to transform young lives by creating self-confidence, opportunity and hope. These kids are learning that they can do anything they set their mind to and developing the confidence to push themselves to achieve things they never thought they could,” said Joe Stallone, Grounded in Music’s Founder.
This event marks the second time that Ingram, the 2008 Academy of Country Music’s “Best New Male Artist,” has collaborated with Grounded in Music to raise funds for the program which continues to be a signature program of the Boys and Girls Club of Austin, where Grounded in Music’s fouryear relationship continues to build each year. Grounded in Music’s students are taught a variety of skills in musicianship, which range from writing lyrics, playing instruments and exploring other areas of the music industry. The program has also provided exclusive opportunities for the students to be mentored by participating artists Patty Griffin, Blue October, My Morning Jacket, Suzanna Choffel, Zeale, Vallejo, Broken Teeth and Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights. Other artists such as Ray Wylie Hubbard and Cory Morrow have financially supported the program.
The founders of the Austin-based non-profit believe immersion into music at a young age has a positive effect on children’s overall well being by boosting confidence. Statistics show that students who are involved in music programs early in life perform better academically in the areas of math and reading. The data also shows that students score higher on the SATs in the areas of math and verbal, regardless of their socio-economic background.
For more information about Grounded in Music please visit: www.groundedinmusic.org.
