A benefit for Music Will, described as the largest non-profit school music education program in the U.S., will salute T Bone Burnett, Master P and Maren Morris as its honorees at a gathering at New York’s Marriott Marquis on May 7. The evening will feature musical performances from all three honorees, along with student performers.
Additionally, an inaugural Music Icon Awards will be given that night to Bruce Eskowitz, COO of Red Light Management.
The evening will raise money for Music Will’s initiative to “affect “transform young lives through innovative, multi-genre music education programs” in public schools. The org says that over the next five years, it’s looking to impact 11 million students annually with its programs.
Michael Bearden, a former music director for Michael Jackson who most recently served in that role for the Oscars, will be the gala’s music director this year.
Information on tickets and sponsorships can be found here.
Burnett shared his thoughts about Music Will’s mission: ““For most of human history, music was used to teach everything — ethics, language, history, mathematics, geography, poetry, and whatever else there was to teach at the time,” he told Variety. “Humans sang to each other like dolphins or whales for thousands of years before we innovated the technology of language. Children will learn more in one hour of a music class than they will in the rest of the school day combined. The fact that we have largely taken the arts out of our education system is one of the most foolish decisions of the modern United States. And the music that has been created the United States, especially in the last century, is our most important contribution to the world. Our music is exponentially more powerful than any of the sadistic weapons we have developed.”
Said Mike Wasserman, CEO of Music Will, “Over the last 24 years, Music Will has helped bring music into the lives of more than 1.8 million students. By 2030, we aim to support 11 million students and music teachers every single year. With anxiety, depression, and loneliness quickly rising for young people across the country, music can be a comfort, a community, a way to express yourself, and a source of personal growth. We are so proud of the community of student music-makers and teachers that we’re able to support. We simply couldn’t do any of this without the support of the artists and music industry leaders who believe in our work. We’re thrilled to be celebrating and raising important funds for music programs across the US with T Bone Burnett, Master P, Maren Morris and Bruce Eskowitz.”
In a statement, Morris said, “Music Will honoring me this year is such a heartfelt gift to me and my inner child. I grew up participating in choir and theatre in public schools whose fine arts programs were always severely underfunded. Since the beginning of my musical career, I have donated my meet and greet proceeds as well as worked closely with organizations who provide funds to these programs in need. School arts programs with healthy budgets for every student are integral to our local communities and give inspiration to the next generation of creative dreamers. I am so humbled by this honor.”