Students from Across the Nation Chosen by The GRAMMY Foundation to Participate in Prestigious Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles Program

Business Wire, Jan 6, 2005

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Twenty-nine talented high school students have been selected for a position in the Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY(R) Jazz Ensembles. Their selection will launch them into the spotlight surrounding the 47th Annual GRAMMY Awards, as well as provide the opportunity to rehearse and perform in front of some of the biggest names in the music industry. Gibson Guitar and Baldwin Piano have partnered with The GRAMMY Foundation(R) to give students a chance at an extraordinary musical experience.

The students, who represent 29 cities, 13 states and two Canadian provinces, will travel to Los Angeles for a jam-packed musical adventure. They will participate in intensive rehearsals on Feb. 6 and Feb. 7 under the direction of Musical Directors Justin DiCioccio of the Manhattan School of Music and Dr. Ron McCurdy of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. The Ensembles will then perform at renowned jazz clubs in Los Angeles, including The Vic on Feb. 9 (6:30 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. show) and the Knitting Factory Club Hollywood on Feb. 10 (7 p.m. show). As a grand finale, they will perform at the GRAMMY Pre-Telecast ceremonies and the Post-Telecast Celebration, as well as attend the 47th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 13 as guests of The Recording Academy(R).

"The Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles program continues to provide talented high school musicians an outstanding opportunity to meet and play with peer musicians from across the country," said GRAMMY Foundation and Recording Academy President Neil Portnow. "This once-in-a-lifetime experience brings together future music makers to perform with GRAMMY-nominated artists and attend the GRAMMY Awards. This unique initiative is just one of the ways in which the GRAMMY Foundation engages young people in stimulating and fulfilling educational programs, while striving to keep music and arts curricula in our schools."

Students also are eligible for college scholarships through the college incentive program (more than $2 million available) and through program partners Berklee College of Music, USC Thornton School of Music, New School University, and Manhattan School of Music.

This year, Gibson Guitar and Baldwin Piano again have teamed up with the GRAMMY Foundation to sponsor the 2005 Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles. The International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) provides the outreach to the music education community.

"Gibson Guitar and Baldwin Piano are committed to music education and the rewards music can offer a student throughout his or her life," said Henry Juskiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson and Baldwin. "The Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensemble program gives these talented young musicians a chance to perform with some of the world's greatest musicians and team up with remarkable people from the GRAMMY Foundation."

New for 2005, the high schools of each entrant will receive a 90-day subscription to SmartMusic, the complete music practice system by MakeMusic!. The finalists' respective schools also will receive exclusive access to download and print special musical compositions by current GRAMMY nominee Brian McKnight, multiple GRAMMY-winning composer/arranger Vince Mendoza, and Dr. Ron McCurdy for their ensembles. Additionally, the school of each selectee will receive Finale(R) by MakeMusic! and a professional set of high-hat cymbals courtesy of the Zildjian Company. Additionally, BET Jazz will record the 2005 Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles' week-long experience, to be televised in the fall of 2005.

Students interested in the 2006 Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles program can download the application at www.GRAMMYFoundation.com or contact the GRAMMY Foundation at grammyfoundation@grammy.com or 877-GRAMMY-Ed. The GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles program was launched regionally in 1993 and expanded nationally in 1999.

Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins and banjos. Gibson's digital guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.'s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Valley Arts, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Maestro, Baldwin, Ellington, Chickering, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson's Web site at www.gibson.com.

The mission of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) is to assure the continued worldwide growth and development of jazz and jazz education. As a part of that mission, the Association initiates programs which nurture and promote the understanding and appreciation of jazz and its heritage, provides leadership to educators regarding curricula and performance, assists teachers and practitioners with information and resources, and takes an active part in organizing clinics, festivals and symposia at local, regional, national and international levels. Presently, active memberships total upwards of 7,000 teachers, musicians, students, music industry representatives, and enthusiasts in 35 countries.