News Bite Archive
January 2012
01/25/12
Thank you to Chamber Music Magazine for featuring us as a "national movement" in their "Music That Serves" column from their January/February 2012 issue. Click here to read (see page 3).
01/19/12
San Francisco Chronicle's Sunday Style section featured photos and a story of our MusicianCorps Friend Raiser from December 8, 2011. It ran in the print edition on Sunday, January 15, 2012.
Right: Carrie Honey with Ramsey Walker and Stephanie Tuttle. Photo by Julio Duffoo / Drew Altizer Photography
01/18/12
Our second annual MLK Day of Song & Service was a huge success. Over 200 volunteers from the community, including 50 Google employees joined us in service. Local musicians performed and shared their art at a lunch time open mic. The event also got great media coverage, including a front page shot from San Francisco Chronicle of our "Spirit Break," (see photo to right) which capped off the opening ceremony.
For a complete recap of the event and media coverage, please see our MLK Day page.
01/16/12
Today is our annual MLK Day of Song & Service. Over 150 volunteers are joining our Bay Area MusicianCorps program to serve and celebrate music at John O'Connell High School in San Francisco's Mission District.
To read more, please see our press release.
December 2011
12/12/11
Above: MC Fellows Meagan Hughes and Hernando Buitrago share stories of service following CEO & Founder Kiff Gallagher's remarks. Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Above: MNS Board Member Spencer Wells welcomes the crowd to his home and the MNS Friend Raiser. Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Last week was a busy one for MNS. On Thursday, December 8th, MNS held a "Friend Raiser" at the lovely San Francisco home of Alexandra and Spencer Wells. More photos from the event can be seen here.
The following day, MNS held its annual in-person board meeting. Not everyone was able to stay for the photo below.
Above: MNS staff and members of the MNS Board of Directors
12/5/11
An intergenerational band of five MusicianCorps service artists was featured last week at the Encore 2011 national conference, hosted by Encore Careers. The conference, held December 1-3 in Sausalito, Cal., brought together 200 of the nation’s leading activists promoting the value of service among older adults with professional skills to contribute to their communities.
The musicians shared their music and stories of service during the conference's "Friday Night Encore" event. MusicianCorps is proud to work with Encore Careers and their parent nonprofit, Civic Ventures, in expanding the encore career movement to engage more older adults in service.
November 2011
11/7/11
The Center for Music National Service is pleased to welcome Spencer Wells, Partner & Managing Director with TPG Opportunities Partners as the newest member of MNS's Board of Directors. Wells brings a diverse range of experience to MNS, including a successful career in credit investing and philanthropy. Wells is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, with a B.A. in Psychology and Columbia Business School with academic honors. He resides in San Francisco with his wife Alexandra.
To read Wells' full bio, please see the Board of Directors page.
October 2011
10/25/11
MusicianCorps recently hosted a group percussion and creative expression workshop for young adult girl residents at the San Francisco Juvenile Justice Center. The workshop was a partnership with Queen's Bench and their Juvenile Hall Project, which provides companionship, enrichment activities, and mentoring to pre-teen and teenage girls in "lock up." Nancy Walters of Queen's Bench reported, "I was so impressed with MusicianCorps. They related to the girls with warmth, humor, and understanding, and we saw the girls really coming out of their shells with the drum circle. The drumming itself was a lot of fun, and resulted in very impressive music."
MusicianCorps appreciates the opportunity to work with the residents at the Juvenile Justice Center, a "hidden audience" population that is especially in need of music-making and expressive activities. MusicianCorps team member Alaia Zeno reports, "Our interaction with the girls was powerful for all of us. It was definitely a shared musical experience. We really enjoyed bonding with the residents and appreciate them for sharing their feelings, creativity, and spirits with us."
Above: MusicianCorps team with Queen's Bench Juvenile Hall Project volunteers following the workshop
Jonathan Greenblatt was recently named Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation. In 2010, Mr. Greenblatt wrote a compelling piece in support of MusicianCorps expansion: "The Sound of Service: It's Time to Bring MusicianCorps to LA.” MNS thanks Jonathan again for his support and guidance and wishes him well in his exciting new role.
Mr. Greenblatt served as CEO of GOOD Worldwide, Inc., a media company whose products include GOOD Magazine. He also co-founded Ethos Water company and Our Good Works, a nonprofit that manages All for Good, an open source web-based platform designed to enable more Americans to serve. Read more about Jonathan Greenblatt’s appointment here
Above: Jonathan Greenblatt, new Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation
10/2/11
CA friends, join us in protecting arts education in public schools. California Arts Advocates is leading the campaign. Click here for more info.
September 2011
Musician, Sting, and Trudie Styler won a Clinton Global Citizen Award at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York last week. After the ceremony, Sting and Somali-born rapper K'Naan, who has been bringing attention to the Somali hunger crisis, performed in front of leaders from around the world. Check out more here.
Above: Sting and Trudie Styler are honored at CGI
Mickey Hart, the legendary drummer of the Grateful Dead and leader in the field of music therapy and healing through vibration, speaks on music, healing, and the universe on September 10, 2011. MNS was proud to be in attendance.
Above: David Watterson, Tori Hall, Mickey Hart, Kiff Gallagher, Alaia Zeno
Above: Mickey Hart leads a drum circle
MNS kicks off the new 2011 - 2012 program year
Come and support MNS by going to Patxi's Chicago Pizza in Noe Valley tomorrow! 10% of all sales will be donated to support our mission in Bay Area schools.
August 2011
Thanks to all that made it out to the Mission Driven Living™ party last Friday!
Above: DJ Kap10 rocks the party
Above: After donating to the cause these enthused supporters showed off their entry stamps
Above: DJ Steve Jackson (left) and Kap10 (right)
Local SF DJ Kap10 supports MNS at Club Waziema on Friday, August 26 (details below). Check out his interview with SF Station!
Friday, Aug 26 - Dance Party Fundraiser for MNS
Friday August 26 - 9pm til the music stops
Come kick it and dance with us
DJ Kap10 at Club Waziema
543 Divisadero Street, San Francisco
Come support and learn about the benefits of music in schools, children’s and veterans hospitals, hospice centers and other community settings
$5 - $20 sliding scale admission
MISSION DRIVEN LIVING
Donate to The Center for Music National Service!
Donate online at http://www.musicnationalservice.org/donate
Or make a donation by mailing a personal check made payable to:
The Center for Music National Service
3254 19th Street
Second Floor
San Francisco, CA 94110
Thank you for your support!
MNS crew supports new music legislation in SF that will help small businesses bring live music to their establishments
Above: The crew at SF City Hall
July 2011
MusicianCorps Rock Camp students and MNS staff perform at the Mission Community Market
Above: MC students performed the Beatles' "Tax Man," Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" and an original song they wrote over the summer.
Above: Awards ceremony
Above: MNS staff performed Johnny Cash's "Big River," The Doors' "People are Strange" and George Jones' "She Thinks I Still Care"
June 2011
MusicianCorps makes a commitment to expansion at CGI America. Read more
Above: President Clinton with MNS CEO & Founder Kiff Gallagher. Photo credit: Adam Schultz / Clinton Global Initiative. CGI America, June 29th-30th, 2011, Chicago, IL
Above: CGI Commitment Announcement. Photo credit: Adam Schultz / Clinton Global Initiative. CGI America, June 29th-30th, 2011, Chicago, IL
MNS is looking to fill two new AmeriCorps*VISTA positions for August! Click the PDFs to view the job descriptions:
Development: Relationship Coordinator (POSITION FILLED)
Development: Grant Writer (POSITION FILLED)
May 2011
Music Day with Unity Care & Montgomery Elementary - May 20, 2011
Find more photos like this on ServiceArtist.net
The MC Fellows and MNS staff ventured out in a new community for a day of drumming and singing. In total, we were able to reach about 100 kids, many of whom don't have regular access to music instruction. To create less disruption in the school (and to capitalize on a beautiful day!), we held the drum circles outside. The morning was split into three sessions of roughly 30 kids each. The Fellows co-led each session, providing a little background on each type of drum we had with us, going over basic technique and rhythm, and the jumping right in to lead them in three songs! The kids—sixth graders—were incredibly attentive and seemed to really enjoy the experience.
After lunch, the three groups we came together in the cafeteria to perform for one another. You could sense the energy in the room. The classes cheered for one another and clearly enjoyed the opportunity to perform (though nerves were abundant too!)
After the performance, we reflected as a group on the experiences of the day. Kids shared how they felt nervous and/or excited for performance, how they overcame those emotions, and how excited they were to have this opportunity. Many expressed how important music was for them, how it was "a part of them." The end of the day came quickly. Kids came up to all of us as we prepared out things—would we be back next week? Next year? If we came back next year, could we follow them to middle school?
PCAH highlights MNS in Arts Education Report: Reinvesting in Arts Education - Winning America's Future Through Creative Schools
MNS Service Artists rock local gigs. Check out some of the upcoming gigs here
April 2011
MNS Founder speaks at Clinton School of Public Service. Read more
Above: Discussion about music as service before Kiff's presentation. From left to right: Stephanie Streett (Executive Director, William J. Clinton Foundation), Kiff Gallagher (MNS CEO & Founder), James "Skip" Rutherford (Professor & Dean, Clinton School of Public Service), Nikolai DiPippa (Director, Public Programs, Clinton School of Public Service), David Watterson (Student, Clinton School of Public Service) | Photo by Jacob Slaton
Above: Kiff Gallagher and Dean Rutherford | Photo by Jacob Slaton
Above: Kiff Gallagher and David Watterson (Organizer of the Arkansas Children's Hospital Music Service Day) | Photo by Jacob Slaton
Above: Kiff Gallagher presenting on music and service | Photo by Jacob Slaton
Above: Musicians serve at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock
Above: Musicians serve at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock
Above: David Watterson in a duet
Above: Musicians in public service in Little Rock
March 2011
ABC features MusicianCorps at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital
TakePart.com article about MusicianCorps: Teaching Kids to Change Their Tunes
Sponsored by the Points of Light Institute, 4 United States Presidents (along with MNS Board Members Karen Finney, Deb Jospin and Kiff Gallagher) attend the musical tribute at the Kennedy Center in honor of President George Bush’s (41) commitment to service and volunteerism: "George H.W. Bush saluted by his peers"
The Center for Music National Service secures a new location in the heart of San Francisco's Mission District
February 2011
MNS national HQ finds a new home...or hopefully we find one in the next 10 days! Drop us a line if you might have one (cheap!) in the SF Bay Area at contact@musicnationalservice.org
MNS Awarded AmeriCorps Planning Grant for MusicianCorps national expansion
January 2011
"Lean On Me" MLK Day on SF's ABC 7
December 2010
Eventbrite employees honor MusicianCorps Fellow Meagan Hughes with a check to honor the new music program that MNS is creating with UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital
MNS named 1 of 3 top national startups by Philanthropedia
Most recent newsletter from Music National Service
Join MusicianCorps for MLK Music Service Day
MusicianCorps students prep for holiday performances:
- 10AM – 12PM: MetWest Town Hall Performance --> Led by MC Fellow Laura Cambron, MusicianCorps students at MetWest High School in Oakland, CA will perform a variety of songs for their peers at the school’s monthly Town Hall, which commences December 3rd between 10AM and 12PM. (Private event)
- 2PM – 4PM: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Holiday Celebration --> On December 3rd between 2PM and 4PM, MC Fellows will provide secular caroling and music-making activities to high-need children and youth populations at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. (Private event)
- 6PM – 8PM: Horace Mann Afterschool Winter Showcase --> Led by MC Fellow Hernando Buitrago, MusicianCorps students will participate in Horace Mann’s Afterschool Winter Showcase, where they plan to perform a series of songs to share their musical work. (Private event)
November 2010 and Before
The Walter & Elise Haas Fund backs MusicianCorps Bay Area!
Preparing for Public Service: MusicianCorps in U.S. News & World Report
MC Fellow David Pulphus wins a GRAMMY with "New Orleans Jazz Orchestra," then represents w/ Terence Blanchard on Rachel Maddow.
Whole Foods supports MusicianCorps San Francisco!
Obameter "Promise Kept:" Artist Corps –– credits MusicianCorps supporter Congressman Joseph Crowley!
Happy New Year from Music National Service
Our latest Newsletter: "MusicianCorps Now Serving 2800 Youth"
MusicianCorps featured in new Spirit of Service: Your Daily Stimulus for Making a Difference book! Look for us as an "Energy" organization.
TIME Mag's "2009 50 Best Innovator" OrigAudio benefits MusicianCorps!
MusicianCorps Seattle Benefit at Moore Theatre: Why Music?
MusicianCorps & Horace Mann Elem. celebrate Latino Heritage at SF City Hall.
Americans for the Arts on United We Serve and Academy of Country Music's Lifting Lives program feature MusicianCorps.
MNS comes "outta the studio" with latest NEWS BLAST!
Video: MusicianCorps Fellows talk about Music National Service at Camp. Check out: Carla: David: Jason: Lendl: Rebecca: Samuel: more on youtube!!
Fellows tell us "Why They Do What They Do" with Tony Deifell
2009-2010 MusicianCorps Fellows from Bay Area, Chicago, New Orleans and Seattle complete national training camp, launch music service in schools, neighborhoods, children's and VA hospitals and other sites. Training faculty and supporters.
Onaje & Chanelle testify at Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.
New Orleans MusicianCorps Task Force plans program and launch.
Corp for National Service awards MNS with multi-year AmeriCorps*VISTA grant to support MusicianCorps.
Seattle Organizes!! Seattle's Arts Corps and MNS convene community orgs (participants) to imagine MusicianCorps. Pearl Jam and City Hall step up w/ funding challenge (City Hall meeting).
SF School District supports the "Musical Peace Corps."
Chicago welcomes Music National Service with city organizing events and MusicTank Vol. 1: The MusicianCorps National Launch Meeting. MusicTank Slideshow
Music service believers launch bi-partisan Congressional Musicians Caucus.
Artist Corps Informance at Kennedy Center, April 22. YouTube (10min), slideshow, news
Artist Corps Rocks the House...and Senate! "Musical Peace Corps" passes with "Serve America Act." Read comments from the Senate floor in support of the Shaheen–Gregg, bi-partisan, Artist Corps amendment.
Ruth U. Fertel Foundation, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage and the Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund join the Music National Service movement!
MusicianCorps in New Orleans for AEP National Forum and event hosted by MNS-NOLA Task Force Co-Chairs Randy Fertel and Robin Burgess, w/ Walter Isaacson, Nick Spitzer and Terrence Blanchard.
Read MNS's new year's newsletter.
Join the discussion on creating an Artist Corps at lmaginArtists.
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation announces investment in Music National Service and MusicianCorps.
President Obama's top arts policy priorities: "Create an Artist Corps."
"Founding mother of the modern service movement," co-author of "The Charismatic Organization," Shirley Sagawa advises MNS policy.
MNS Founder does a two-day residency at UMich and Arts Enterprise on MusicianCorps™ and the intersection of arts, entrepreneurship and public service. MNS on Music for Change panel at CMJ Music Marathon in NYC.
Aspen Institute's "Big Ideas Report" says MNS Will Strengthen U.S. Communities. Click here to view the Attendee List for Conversations on National Music Service.
