NAMM To Host Live SupportMusic Coalition Simulcast at the 2011 NAMM Show In Support Of School Music Education Programs

CARLSBAD, Calif. Jan. 11, 2011--The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced that it will host a live webcast of its monthly SupportMusic Coalition meeting at the NAMM Show for all NAMM Members and guests seeking to learn more about how to support their local school music education programs.

Broadcasting live from the Arts Schools Network National Conference, the “Building and Engaging Support for Music and Arts Education” webcast will be moderated by Mike Blakeslee, senior deputy executive director at MENC: The National Association for Music Education, and will feature panelists Graham Welch, president of the International Society of Music Education (ISME); Robert Bryant, executive director of fine arts at Katy I.S.D.; Ralph S. Opacic, president and executive director of the Orange County High School of the Arts; and Karen Childress-Evans, visual and performing arts director for San Diego Unified School District.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 9:30 a.m. in the Anaheim Hilton’s California Ballroom. Coffee will be served.

The coalition invites individuals and all interested arts, parent, education, civic engagement and youth-serving organizations to become affiliates. Affiliate organizations actively participate via task force efforts, dissemination of pertinent information to constituents and members, and by adding tools and materials to www.supportmusic.com that advance the group’s advocacy mission and messages.

For more information and links to national, state and local organizations working together to keep music education strong, go to www.supportmusic.com. Organizations interested in participating in the SupportMusic Coalition, are encouraged to write to supportmusic@namm.org.

About NAMM
NAMM is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion international musical instruments and products industry. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM or the proven benefits of making music, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).