CMA Foundation Leads First-Ever Music Teacher Hill Day In West Virginia
CMA Foundation and Americana Artist Christian Lopez Meet with State Senators and Delegates to Promote Music Education
On Wednesday, March 6, the CMA Foundation participated in West Virginia’s first-ever Music Teacher Hill Day. While in West Virginia, the CMA Foundation partnered with West Virginia native and Americana artist Christian Lopez to meet with Mitch Carmichael, West Virginia State Senate President District 4 and Lieutenant Governor; Marshall Wilson, West Virginia House of Delegates District 60; John Unger, West Virginia State Senate District 16; Roger Hanshaw, West Virginia House of Delegates District 33; and Patricia Rucker, West Virginia State Senate District 16 to discuss the importance of music education. During the reception, Lopez performed “Stay With You,” with his middle school band teacher in attendance, JP Lynch, who is also an executive member of West Virginia Music Educators Association.
The West Virginia Music Educators Association (WVMEA) was awarded funds though the State Music Education Association Advocacy Grant Program that the CMA Foundation and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) partnered to administer.
The visit to West Virginia comes as the CMA Foundation celebrates Music In Our Schools Month. For more than 30 years, March has officially been designated by the NAfME for observance of Music In Our Schools Month, the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation.
About the CMA Foundation
Established in 2011 as the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association (CMA), the CMA Foundation is committed to improving and sustaining high-quality music education programs across the United States, working to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in music education. Through strategic partnerships, professional development and grant distribution, the CMA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), has invested more than $25 million across the national public school system, after school programs, summer camps and community outreach organizations. Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, proceeds from CMA Fest, the four-day long music festival held annually in Nashville, are used to power the CMA Foundation’s social impact and unique model of giving.
