Students from Anaheim Schools Visit 2004 NAMM Show One Year After Elton John Benefit Concert Raised Money

Students from the Anaheim Union High School District today joined representatives from the City of Anaheim, the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, Yamaha Corporation of America and NAMM, the International Music Products Association, to kick off the opening of the 2004 NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center.

The students, who performed with NAMM’s “Fernand L. Petiot All-Industry Marching Band” to mark the opening of the four-day trade show, were among those who benefited from a $30,000 musical instrument donation to local area schools earlier this year.

Many of the instruments were made available at special prices thanks to Yamaha. Yamaha Corporation of America Senior Vice President Terry Lewis said, “When Yamaha presented the Elton John tribute concert here last January, our main goal was to ensure that more students would have a chance to experience the fun and benefits of music education. Since the City of Anaheim has been such a strong supporter of NAMM activities over the years, it is only fitting that kids from Anaheim schools be among those to benefit from the concert.”

Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM added, “One year after the Elton John tribute concert raised $330,000 for music education, it is so gratifying to see these musical instruments placed in the hands of kids right here in Anaheim, our show’s home for so many years. This is another example of NAMM’s mission of increasing participation in music making in action.”

The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, a nonprofit organization, facilitated the instrument donation, using a portion of the proceeds from “The 2003 NAMM Concert Honoring Sir Elton John: A Benefit for Music Education,” held at the Arrowhead Pond arena as a fundraiser for school music programs. Event organizers selected Anaheim as a beneficiary of the concert proceeds because of the city’s longstanding status as a cordial host of the annual international music products industry gathering, and because of local school music programs’ need for support.

Felice Mancini, executive director of The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation said, "NAMM and Yamaha have been staunch supporters of The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation for many years, and the opportunity to work together to help schools in the community of Anaheim was welcomed and well-timed. I think this donation really had a positive, lasting impact for many students and teachers."

“NAMM is one of the highlights of the Anaheim Convention Center’s annual calendar of events,” said Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle. “The generosity of the International Products Association with this donation to our Anaheim schoolchildren has shown the valuable link between the events that visit our facility and the entire Anaheim community.”

About The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation
The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation (MHOF) supports music education and its many benefits through the donation and repair of musical instruments to under-served schools, community music programs and individual students nationwide. MHOF was inspired by the acclaimed 1995 motion picture Mr. Holland’s Opus, the story of the profound effect a dedicated music teacher had on generations of students. The film's composer, Michael Kamen, founded MHOF in 1996 as his commitment to the future of music education. For more information, visit www.mhopus.org.

About Yamaha
Yamaha Corporation of America manufactures a complete line of musical instruments, professional audio products, customer-driven support products and computer-based products targeted to both the amateur and professional markets. For more information, visit www.yamaha.com.

About The Anaheim Union High School District
The Anaheim Union High School District is a public school district comprising 19 high schools for 32,000 students in grades 7 through 12, under the direction of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Craig Haugen. It covers 46 square miles in Orange County, Calif., and its offices are located on Crescent Way in Anaheim. For more information, visit www.auhsd.k12.ca.us.