"Save School Arts Rally," 5/16/06 (Photo Album)
Music in Schools Today rallied nearly 500 legislators, musicians, students and parents at the San Francisco City Hall Rotunda for a "Save School Arts Rally" on May 16, 2006. The event highlighted the crucial need to ensure that the $100 million line item for school arts education programs, endangered by a looming budget measure, remained intact, so that each child in California can enjoy at least a basic exposure to arts and music. The rally was specifically in support of the $100 million proposed state line item for arts education and the $53 million line item in the federal Department of Education budget.

Guests included some of the Bay Area's most prominent musicians, including the Alexander String Quartet, Tommy Castro, Mickey Hart and Joe Satriani. Student performances included the Berkeley Youth Orchestra String Quartet, Gail Dobson Youth in Jazz and  Melecio Magdaluyo and the School of the Arts Jazz Quartet. The event was co-sponsored by KDFC, the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services and San Francisco State University. KDFC emceed the event, and presented their "Music Educator of the Year Award" during the rally. Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart closed the event with a spirited drum circle, the likes of which City Hall has never seen! Check out our online photo album of the event!

Watch the online video of KQED's Spark documentary on Oakland's arts-integrated ASCEND School, an excellent example of a community-based school that integrates music and the arts into the core curriculum.

Save School Music Reception
On May 27, 2004, Music in Schools Today, Classical 102.1 KDFC and the San Francisco Arts Commission hosted a "Save School Music" reception at the San Francisco Hilton Cityscape restaurant. The KDFC Music Educator of the Year Award was presented to Jesse Anthony of Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Berkeley, by Dr. Larry Scripp. Dianne Nicolini of KDFC emceed the event, and music was provided by the Crowden String Quartet.

Big Music Lesson
The Big Music Lesson was a free music event held in March 2001, honoring Music in Our Schools Month, a national month-long celebration endorsed by the President and both Houses of Congress. The Big Music Lesson provided curriculum and visiting artists to prepare hundreds of students and teachers for a major stage presentation, followed by in-school activities and evaluation.

Our Annual FUNdraiser: Stars on Staff (Photo Album)
On November 5, 2005, Music in Schools Today held our tenth annual Stars on Staff Celebrity Waiter Luncheon at Ana Mandara. Check out our online photo album and our amazing auction items.

Honorary Co-Chairs were Mayor Gavin Newsom and Michael Tilson Thomas. The Honorary Committee members included U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, Stefanie Coyote, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, Daniel Grossman, Marcia Hill, State Assemblyman Mark Leno and U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.

Celebrity waiters included: Rudy Colombini, Dick Conte, PJ Corkery, Stefanie Coyote, Gail Dobson, Bevan Dufty, Phil Elwood, Peter Finch, Dave Getz, Susan Getz, Herb Gold, Joshua Kosman, Lois Lehrman, Dennis McNally, Barry Melton, Natasha Miller, Kim Nalley, Dianne Nicolini, Ian Rhett, Mark Sanchez, Bill Schechner, Gene Schoenfeld, Hoyt Smith, Michael Smuin, Tom Vacar, Jan Wahl and Ken Wayne. Master of Ceremonies was Bob Sarlatte, and music was provided by Mike Greensill and Kim Nalley.

Event corporate sponsors included KFOG, Disc Makers and KDFC. In-kind sponsors included Galleron Signature Wines, Lynch Vineyards, Ana Mandara, Sherman Clay Pianos and Maker's Mark. Individual sponsors included Drs. Andrew and Sandra Calman, David Fleishhacker, Kris Getz, Eric Schwartz, Marcia Hill, and the Richard E. Cummings Memorial Fund.

Benefit with The Robert Cray Band, Marcia Ball, and Friends
On Thursday, May 26, 2005, five-time Grammy Award winner The Robert Cray Band and Grammy nominee Marcia Ball performed at a benefit for Music in Schools Today at the Herbst Theatre. At the event, Sara Lomax of Tierra Linda Middle School in San Carlos was honored as KDFC's "Music Matters Educator of the Year" award. We would like to thank MuST board member Mike Kappus of The Rosebud Agency for making this possible, as well as MuST board member Gregg Perloff of Another Planet Entertainment for producing the event, and See's Candies for their sponsorship.

"High Standards" Concert with Frederica von Stade and Wesla Whitfield
Music in Schools Today presented "High Standards," featuring Frederica von Stade and Wesla Whitfield with jazz pianist Mike Greensill, at San Francisco's Herbst Theatre on May 29, 2003. Also performing were the San Francisco Girls Chorus, Ryan Houston, and Taylor Eigsti. The evening featured a rich storehouse of musical treasures known as The Great American Popular Songbook. The concert was followed by a reception honoring the artists, sponsors, and KDFC's "Music Educator of the Year," Doug Pleasure of Washington High School in San Francisco.