National Anthem Project honors choir to sing in the 118th Tournament Of Roses Parade
Top Choir Students from Across the Country Sing the National Anthem in Support of Music Education and the National Anthem Project
PASADENA, Calif., January 1, 2007 — The National Anthem Project, an effort led by the National Association for Music Education (MENC) to re-teach Americans to sing the “The Star-Spangled Banner” and spotlight school music programs, has selected 100 choir students from across the country to sing in the historic Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 2007 in Pasadena, Calif. These 100 students were named as National Anthem Project Student Ambassadors and will perform at the Tournament of Roses Parade as members of the National Anthem Project Honors Choir. The National Anthem Project Student Ambassadors’ goal is to spread their music education message in their local communities and encourage millions of people across the country to get involved.
Together with American Musical Salute, the National Anthem Project set out to find the most talented student musicians to become members of the National Anthem Project Honors Choir. Choir students from schools across the nation were selected based on auditions and recommendations by local music educators. NAMM, the trade association for the international music products association and sponsor of the National Anthem Project, will feature the Honors Choir on their float in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Together with the legendary Oak Ridge Boys, the choir will sing the national anthem and other songs to celebrate our country’s heritage and the importance of school music programs.
“MENC is proud to present the National Anthem Project Student Ambassadors as members of the National Anthem Project Honor Choir in the Tournament of Roses Parade,” says John Mahlmann, executive director of MENC. “This group of student musicians represents the best in the country. They are terrific examples of why access to a quality music education is so important.”
The National Anthem Project will be featured on the NAMM float, “Natural Harmonies, Oh Say Can You Sing” to demonstrate NAMM’s commitment to music education and the National Anthem Project. The float features an American Bald Eagle carrying two American flags in its talons and will be covered in thousands of flowers as well as natural elements including bark and seeds.
America Is Losing Its Voice
Two out of three Americans don’t know the words to the national anthem, according to a Harris Poll. This startling statistic prompted MENC, the world’s largest arts education association, to spearhead the National Anthem Project and shine the spotlight on the importance of school music programs, as this is where most Americans learn the national anthem and other patriotic songs.
The National Anthem Project campaign launched on the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. on March 10, 2005, and Mrs. Laura Bush serves as Honorary Chairperson of the program. Jeep® is the National Presenting Sponsor, and additional sponsors include The History Channel; Conn-Selmer, Inc.; The Gibson Foundation, part of the Gibson Guitar Corporation; and MBNA.
The second phase of the National Anthem Project was an extensive Road Show that launched in Miami on January 3, 2006 and traveled to at least one city in all 50 states throughout the year. The National Anthem Project truck stopped at local events, schools, sporting events and civic locations to educate local citizens on the history and significance of the national anthem and to encourage them to find out what the state of music education is in their communities. In addition, the multi-faceted campaign included education initiatives in schools across the country and special performances and alliances with professional sporting events.
The initiative is supported by more than 200 civic, education, and entertainment organizations including the Girls Scouts of the U.S.A., American Legion, and professional sports leagues such as the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL). The official musical ambassadors of the National Anthem Project are country music favorites The Oak Ridge Boys.
For more information about how to get involved and support the National Anthem Project and school music education, please visit www.thenationalanthemproject.org.
The National Anthem Project is supported by the following organizations:
National Presenting Sponsor: Jeep brand
National Music Industry Sponsor: NAMM, the International Music Products Association
National Sponsors: The History Channel, MBNA, The Gibson Foundation, part of the Gibson Guitar Corporation, Conn-Selmer, Inc.
National Anthem Project Official Musical Ambassadors: The Oak Ridge Boys
Civic/Government: The American Legion, Girl Scouts of the USA, The Masonic Service Association of North America, The Military Family Network, National Endowment for the Arts, The National Flag Day Foundation, Inc., National Sojourners, Inc., Reserve Officers Association, Save America’s Treasures, The
Smithsonian Institute, The United States Department of Defense, The United States House of Representatives, U.S. Conference of Mayors, White House Commission on Remembrance
Entertainment/Media: American Musical Salutes, The American Sportscasters Association, BMI, Chorus America, Country Music Association, Executive Press, Inc., Marching Show Concepts, Inc., Marmel Entertainment, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Walt Disney Company
Education: Alpha Delta Kappa, The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Preparation, American Association of School Administrators, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Association of School Business Officials International, Christian Educators Association International, MusicFriends, Music Teachers National Association, National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of State Boards of Education, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Education Association, National School Board Association, National School Public Relations Association
Trade Associations: American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Association Managers, Inc., Association of Appliance Manufacturers, National Association of Federal Credit Unions, National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, Plumbing, Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association
Celebrities/Artists: Norm Crosby, Garrison Keillor, Florence Henderson, Kevin Sorbo, Keith Lockhart, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winans, Mrs. America Pageant
Arts/Advocacy: National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for Humanities, VSA Arts (Very Special Arts)
Sports: The American Sportscasters Association, The National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball teams across the country, National Football League (NFL), The Victor Awards
About MENC
The National Association for Music Education (MENC), the world’s largest arts education organization, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 130,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC’s activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.
About NAMM
The International Music Products Association, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization’s popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $16 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).
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