On this, the first day of our new blog, we want to wish a very happy 6th birthday to Musicians at Play! Founded by April and Don Williams and Sean Hughes, the Musicians at Play Foundation has spent 6 glorious years giving back to the community and working together to present the composers, musicians, and vocalists who make LA a global music capital. Musicians at Play provides music education programs for instrumental and vocal music students in Jazz, Big Band, Classical, Chamber Ensemble, Film and Orchestral Music through master classes, mentorships, student concerts, panel discussions and after school youth orchestra, among many other activities.
My introduction to MAP came when I was a show choir parent volunteer while also working with the music teachers in the Burbank Unified School District through Bertrand’s Music. What I found was a group of people striving with energy, commitment and sheer joy to bring the love of music to our students and our community. I knew they were the kind of people I wanted to support, so when I was asked to join the Board in late 2020, I didn’t give it a second thought. Over the past 6 years, the amazing team at MAP has partnered with volunteers at the local schools, teachers, professional musician mentors, conductors, granting organization and community members to bring unique experiences to students in underserved communities around the Los Angeles area–students who might never otherwise meet or work with professional musicians. I’ve been lucky enough to see some of their concerts which brought together students with mentors and combined choirs, bands and orchestras from different schools to perform everything from movie scores to major works and they are so exciting!
MAP won’t be six “for ever and ever” and we have great plans to grow and expand our reach in 2021 and beyond! Hope you will be able to join us!
