Local Benefit Concert for Music Education in Connecticut

FAIRFIELD, Conn., April 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SpreadMusicNow and Band Together – Connecticut-based non-profits dedicated to improving children's lives through music education, today announced a benefit concert for Connecticut students.  All proceeds from the event will support a coalition of organizations that provide music education to needy students, helping them develop skills for college, career and life success.

The concert, A Night at Studio 54 in Support of Music Education, will feature a dance and funk show channeling the popular NY nightclub Studio 54 and the scene from the 1970's and 80's made popular by Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Donna Summer, The O'Jays, Jackson Five, The Ohio Players and more.  A student ensemble will perform at a reception prior to the concert, and several nonprofit leaders – themselves professional musicians - will join the stage as special guests.

Students, particularly low-income and minority youth, often lack exposure and access to the arts, contributing to a gap in their acquisition of 21^st-century skills, such as collaboration, creativity, innovation, personal responsibility and cultural awareness—skills essential to future success. Through the concert, SpreadMusicNow and Band Together are helping to fill this void.

SpreadMusicNow is established as a fund through Redding-based BeFoundation at Fairfield County's Community Foundation to help musically-inspired children and teens develop as musicians and creative thinkers.

"SpreadMusicNow encourages students interested in exploring music as a career," said Richard J. Wenning, BeFoundation's executive director. "We help them develop as musicians and build their college and career pathways."

"Music and all of the arts connect people, stimulate imagination and energize our economy," said Juanita T. James, president and CEO of Fairfield County's Community Foundation. "Spread Music Now's mission is beautifully aligned with our goals of making the arts available to every Fairfield County resident."

SpreadMusicNow and Band Together will provide all funds raised, with additional matching grants, to a coalition of music education nonprofits including BackCountry Jazz, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Creative Connections, Hartford Performs, INTAKE Music, KEYS, Litchfield Jazz Camp, Little Kids Rock, Music Haven, Neighborhood Studios, PROJECT MUSIC, Westport Arts Center, and WPKN.

"If you believe in the life-changing benefits of music education, added Rob Fried, Band Together's co-founder and musical director, then get friends, family and everyone you know to support our cause here and help SpreadMusicNow and Band Together transform children's lives and build stronger, more vibrant communities."

"The Fairfield Theatre Company is proud to host this event, said FTC executive director John Reid, we work closely with SpreadMusicNow on our educational programs and we've hosted many successful Band Together shows at StageOne."    

WHAT: Band Together SpreadMusicNow Concert Fundraiser for Music Education
WHEN: May 30, 2015, 6:30pm
WHERE: Fairfield Theater Company, 70 Sanford Street, Fairfield CT 06824
Purchase tickets: https://fairfieldtheatre.org/shows/night-studio-54-benefit-concert-music-education
DONATIONS: https://www.crowdrise.com/anightatstudio54/fundraiser or write a check to BeFoundation SpreadMusicNow Fund, PO Box 1330, Redding, CT 06875

ABOUT SPREAD MUSIC NOW
SpreadMusicNow is a fund established by Connecticut-based nonprofit BeFoundation to help musically-inspired children and teens develop as musicians and creative thinkers. SpreadMusicNow funds music instruction for under-served youth, helping to shape their futures and build lifelong success. BeFoundation established the SpreadMusicNow Fund at Fairfield County's Community Foundation. For more information visit www.spreadmusicnow.org.

ABOUT BEFOUNDATION
BeFoundation is a private, family foundation based in Redding, CT dedicated to transforming the lives and communities of disadvantaged youth in Connecticut. BeFoundation invests in organizations that share a commitment to expanding the pathways available for college, career and life success while building creative, smart and engaged communities. For more information visit www.befoundation.org or call 203-938-9000.

ABOUT BAND TOGETHER
Band Together CT unites a network of talented musicians and artists with nonprofit organizations to raise funds for children and families in need of a helping hand. Each benefit concert produced by Band Together CT is a unique and wonderful testament to the generosity of the human spirit. Concerts are often "themed" such as British Invasion, Motown, CT Country, Latin Dance Party and Studio 54. Founder Rob Fried and Jerry Vigorito received the 2013 Encore Artists of the Year by Fairfield Theatre Company and have been recognized by CT Governor R. Jodi Rell and both National and Connecticut Legislatures. Band Together CT has helped raise over $1.4 million for local charities and families. For more information visit http://bandtogetherct.com.

About Fairfield Theatre Company
Fairfield Theatre Company is a highly-acclaimed nonprofit performing arts organization located in the heart of downtown Fairfield, Connecticut.  FTC presents nearly 200 performances and concerts each year featuring outstanding national talent on FTC's StageOne in Fairfield, the Klein Auditorium in Bridgeport, and the Norwalk Concert Hall.  FTC's intimate 225-seat StageOne venue is widely recognized as being one of the best places to see a live performance in the region. FTC is dedicated to providing the highest quality arts, entertainment, and educational experiences to the communities we serve.

SOURCE SpreadMusicNow