NAMM MUSEUM of Making Music’s Annual Play It Forward Gala Raises More Than $45,000 For Music Programs

The NAMM MUSEUM of Making Music (MoMM), a division of the NAMM Foundation, raised more than $45,000 at its annual “Play it Forward” Gala on Sunday, October 4. The gala featured an intimate performance by music legends Mavis Staples and Joan Osborne, and spirited live and silent auctions. All of the funds raised will help to offset the operating costs of the Museum's year-round music education programs, which serve thousands of children, adults and seniors each year.

“We are extremely humbled and grateful to the many generous members, donors and friends who participated in the evening’s events,” said NAMM MUSEUM Executive Director Carolyn Grant. “Thanks to the unprecedented success of the auctions, the NAMM MUSEUM of Making Music will be able to continue its commitment to creating a healthy and harmonious world through music and music making.” 

A highlight of the evening was the powerful performances by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mavis Staples and singer-songwriter Joan Osborne in the Museum’s intimate 150-person concert space. Staples and Osborne captivated the guests by singing hit songs such as “One Of Us,” “I’ll Take You There,” and “You Are Not Alone.”

The gala owed much of its success to the generous donations made by dozens of Museum members, volunteers, patrons and NAMM members including Alfred Music and Deering Banjo Company.

In addition to the gala’s auction, there were mini flash mob performances by Cosmic Jam, a fiddle group led by Jennifer Albrent, Paula Simmons and Gordon Grubbs, Carlos Alvarez, Jack Hill, Owen Babbey and the Euphoria Brass Brand.

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About the NAMM MUSEUM of Making Music
The NAMM MUSEUM of Making Music, a division of the NAMM Foundation, explores the history and impact of the music products industry and connects people of all ages with hands-on music making. Open to the public at NAMM industry headquarters since 2000, the Museum showcases the story of making, selling and using musical instruments and products from 1900 to present day. Committed to connecting people of all ages in active music making, the Museum offers performances, educational outreach programs, and hands-on workshops year-round. The Museum opens to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m and to NAMM members daily. For more information, call (760) 438-5996, visit www.museumofmakingmusic.org, and follow on Twitter and Facebook.