Music Unites Blog

Why we do what we do

"I found out today I was accepted to the Clive Davis School of Recorded Music Music Mongols Program, it's sort of like a pre-college program about music production and the music industry that really "encourages" future enrollment at the school. It feels like every time I step on stage or represent Music Unites, that I'm the luckiest girl not only to be able to grow from great mentors like you but to be in such a safe and inspirational environment to grow in as a musician and person. Basically a huge thank you to Music Unites because I don't think I would have applied to the program if all the Career days and celebrities didn't exist. They really touched me and now that I'm starting to make decisions for the rest of my life, like college and more, I just continue to realize the underlining fact that no matter where I go, there's music and it really is uniting us all. It might sound corny coming from a little 16 year old, but honestly, I am the luckiest girl, so thank you for being here and putting your heart in something that really does impact so many. I can see this getting really big and really influential on culture. We're in the middle of a renaissance! And it's up to us to catalyze, I can feel it!" - Candace Camacho, Music Unites Youth Choir Member
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Eight Music Unites on Campus Branches Have Launched Nationwide!

Music Unites welcomes Music Unites Emerson, Music Unites New York University, Music Unites Northwestern, Music Unites New School, Music Unites Penn State, Music Unites Harvard, Music Unites Columbia and Music Unites CSU Long Beach.

Music Unites Campus Reps bring the mission of Music Unites alive on campuses nationwide. Will you be the next Music Unites Campus Rep? E-mail campusreps@musicunites.org if you are interested in inspiring the next generation of musicians on your college campus today!

The First Ever Music Unites Youth Choir and After-School Guitar Program Launches in the Bronx at the Women's Academy of Excellence

Music Unites announces their first milestone achievement toward accomplishing their Five Borough Youth Choir Campaign Initiative to fund five Music Unites Youth Choir programs across NYC's five boroughs with the January 2012 launch of their inaugural youth choir at The Women's Academy of Excellence in the Bronx.

Auditions were held on January 7, 2012, with a total of 16 young ladies making the final cut for the Music Unites after-school programs.

The Official Music Unites Youth Choir and After-School Music Unites Guitar Program will be led by Rachel Fry and Shaheed Shabazz.

UNRULY HEIR DEBUTS MUSIC UNITES X ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE CHARITY T SHIRT

Edgy against the grain lifestyle brand, Unruly Heir will be teaming up with Music Unites debut the official Music Unites’ t-shirt. The t-shirt is a 100 percent cotton v-neck, and went on sale for the first time at Music Unites’ and Rolling Stone’s In Tune showcase featuring Gary Clarke Jr., on Wednesday December 14th.

Shirts will be sold at all future Music Unites events and for those unable to attend events they will also be available here. The t-shirts will retail for $38 and ALL proceeds will go directly to Music Unites to continue their initiative of providing music education for underprivileged children in inner-city schools.

Unruly Heir Founder and Creative Director Joey Goodwin explains the collaboration, “Working with Music Unites and Michelle Edgar is a great opportunity to lend our creativity at Unruly Heir to something very special that Michelle and her Music Unites team are doing through spreading the joy of expression through music to a younger audience, who may not have the opportunity otherwise.”

Look for rockers, A&R, and the Music Unites Youth Choir to all be sporting the Unruly Heir x Music Unites x Rolling Stone shirt.

New York FAME Benefits Music Unites

Benefiting Music Unites, The New York FAME will hold a charity event on February 15, 2012 at the Manhattan Center Studios, home of the Hammerstein and the Grand in New York City. Featuring establish and emerging fashion designers and performers from around the world. Music Unites, a non-profit organization, partners with established and emerging artists to present concerts which raise awareness and funding for music programs in inner city schools. Music Unites also brings these artists into the schools and communities served by the organization to teach and inspire through the power of music.

This past September, The New York FAME left its mark during NY Fashion Week, as the marquee event to attend. From it's celebrity attendees such as Legendary Natalie Cole, Chyna Lyane from the award winning Oscar movie Precious, R&B performer Trina, Pamela Long from Bad Boy Records, and special performance by Nuttin But Stringz from Americas Got Talent. -

Give the Gift of Music Today: Donate to Music Unites

This holiday season give the gift of music to children in need. Music Unites is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting emerging and established artists and bringing music education to students in underfunded inner-city school systems. This January, Music Unites will be launching their Five NYC Borough Music Unites Youth Choir Campaign. Donate $5 today to support this next initiative!

Join the Music Unites on Campus Representative Program

Become a part of the action! The Music Unites on Campus Representative Program is relaunching for January 2012. Music Unites Campus Reps bring the mission of Music Unites to college campuses nationwide. Students are required to organize two events per semester and meet with their Music Unites branch on a weekly/bi-weekly basis. MU Campus Reps are required to reach out to their college campus via Facebook and other social networking sites to spread the word about the Music Unites organization, initiatives, and programs.

Want to get involved on campus? Love music and empowering others?

Send in your resume to Michelle Golden campusreps@musicunites.org today!

The YaNY Music Unites Youth Choir Performs at The Roots Holiday Show

The yaNY Music Unites Youth Choir performed at The Roots Holiday Show for the 5th Annual Okayplayer Holiday Jam on Thursday, December 15 at Brooklyn Bowl. They performed the following songs: "All I Want for Christmas," "Just The Way You Are," and "Hey, Soul Sister."

Gary Clark Jr. Performs at Music Unites and Rolling Stone In Tune Event to support Five NYC borough initiative

On Wednesday, December 14, Music Unites and Rolling Stone Magazine presented the next installment of their ongoing In Tune series, featuring Warner Bros. recording artist Gary Clark Jr. The concert was part of Rolling Stone’s Rolling Stone Fest, a new pop-up and event series at New York City’s Openhouse Gallery located at 201 Mulberry Street in SoHo. This special evening was in support and celebration of Music Unites’ announcement of its first milestone achievement toward accomplishing its “Five Borough Initiative” to fund five Music Unites Youth Choir programs across NYC's five boroughs with the January 2012 launch of its inaugural youth choir at The Women’s Academy of Excellence in the Bronx. The featured performance of the night showcased Austin native and visionary singer-guitarist Gary Clark Jr., whose critically acclaimed major-label debut EP Bright Lights was released in August and received four-star review from Rolling Stone.

Music Unites Introduces MUYC Ambassador Jon Batiste at SOHO House

On Thursday, December 8, 2011, Music Unites welcomed Music Unites Youth Choir Artist Ambassador and jazz musician Jon Batiste. Batiste will start a Music Unites Youth Choir at a school in Harlem as part of Music Unites' Five NYC Borough Music Unites Youth Choir Campaign. The campaign launches in January 2012. One school in each of the five NYC boroughs will be selected to be a part of this amazing Music Unites initiative. Students who have never been exposed to music will now have the opportunity to perform in a choir and work with a well-known artist who is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of musicians.

The YANY Music Unites Youth Choir Performs at Rolling Stone Fest 2011

On Tuesday, December 6, 2011, the yaNY Music Unites Youth Choir did a holiday performance following American rock bands Dawes and Hacienda at the Rolling Stone Fest 2011!

Music Unites and Rolling Stone Present: Gary Clark Jr

Music Unites and Rolling Stone are coming together once again on December 14th, 2011, for a private performance to benefit the Music Unites Youth Choir! The event will be held at 20 Mulberry Street at 7:00PM featuring a performance by Gary Clark Jr. plus special guest DJ Luber. Tickets can be purchased for $50.

Music Unites Youth Choir Will Perform At Rolling Stone Fest 2011

On Tuesday, December 6, 2011, Rolling Stone invites you to a series of special live performances at this year's Rolling Stone Fest. The event will take place on 201 Mulberry Street, between Spring and Kenmare Streets, in New York. The Dawes will be performing at 1PM (rsvp to dawes@rollingstone.com); Hacienda at 3PM (rsvp to hacienda@rollingstone.com); a special holiday performance by The Music Unites Youth Choir at 6PM (rsvp to rsvp@musicunites.org). Entry is on a first come, first served basis. RSVP does not guarantee entry.

Help Music Unites Ambassador Jonathan Batiste Raise Money for MUYC in Harlem

On December 8, 2011 at 10PM at SoHo House in New York, you're invited to an intimate concert with jazz musician Jonathan Batiste to help raise money for his selected after-school Music Unites Youth Choir in Harlem. Music Unites will celebrate Batiste's Music Unites ambassadorship and his dream to expose all kids to the wonderful world of music. Tickets are $50 in order to attend and all proceeds will go towards funding Batiste's Music Unites Youth Choir. -

MUyaNY Music Unites Choir Career Day

Industry music leaders from BMI, Live Nation, Shorefire PR, and the National Jazz Museum visited the MUyaNY Music Unites Choir to speak to the students about their careers in music. It was an inspiring and educational day as the panel gave career advice and spoke about their journey to where they are today. Thank you to Jonathan Batiste (National Jazz Museum music curator and co director/ Jazz musician), Rebecca Shapiro (Founder/ VP, Shorefire PR), Lisa Luego (Live Nation Senior Director, Marketing Solutions), and Samantha Cox (Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations BMI). -

BERKLEE CITY MUSIC NETWORK CONFERENCE 2011

The Berklee City Music Network is proud to announce their first annual network conference. It will be coupled with the National Guild for Community Arts Education Conference, which will be held from November 9-12, 2011 in Boston, MA. The Berklee City Music Network Conference will give participants the opportunity to explore themes directly related to providing access to a quality and diverse music education for students as well as to deepen one's understanding on how to make the most out of the Berklee City Music Network. Additionally, the conference will cover topics directly related to creating access to the state of the art music education for students in under-served communities across the country. The conference will highlight expert speakers in the field of music education. Michelle Edgar, Founder and Executive Director of Music Unites, will be one of the speakers at the Berklee City Music Network Conference.

Roger Vivier and Music Unites celebrate Roger Vivier’s glam rock ‘n’ roll inspired Fall/Winter Collection

On October 25, Roger Vivier and Music Unites joined forces to celebrate Roger Vivier’s glam rock ‘n roll inspired Fall / Winter collection to benefit the January launch of Music Unites Youth Choir at the Women's Academy of Excellence in the Bronx. This was an intimate high profile gathering of celebrities, fashion designers, musicians, and New York socialites. Notable attendees included: Leighton Meester, Bruno Frisoni (Creative Director of Roger Vivier), Alexandra Richards, and Annabelle Dexter Jones. Partygoers sipped on champagne cocktails, grooved to beats provided by Alexandra Richards behind the turntables, and toasted to yet another milestone collision of the music and fashion worlds in a powerful effort to raise awareness for the importance of music education in under-funded city school systems.

The 2011-2012 yaNY Music Unites Choir

The yaNY Music Unites Youth Choir, a program of Young Audiences New York, is a diverse and exciting performance ensemble made up of public high school students from across New York City. The mission of the choir is to provide free, professional level vocal music training and performance opportunities for students of all abilities and experience from NYC public high schools. Advancing music learning for young people of all levels of experience, students study and perform songs in all musical styles including R&B, Pop and Classical. Additionally, the choir promotes self-expression and creativity by working together to develop original work. Participants meet once a week during the academic year, prepare for winter and spring concerts and perform for the public at professional venues around New York City.

The yaNY Music Unites Youth Choir is made possible through the generous support of Music Unites and The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation.

The 2011-2012 Music Unites yaNY Youth Choir:

Antonio (TJ) Adorna, Kyle Alfred, Taylor Bailey, O’Reggio Bennett, Nathan Bergelson, Dylan Blau Edelstein, Anna Bores, Katherine Brochero, Elizabeth Cardero, Natalia Carrero, Jonathan Chance, Linda Collazo, Dannyele Crawford, Avion Cummings, Lauren Curet, Bridgette de Jesus, Edgardo Diaz Acevedo, Sabiha Farheen, Katrina Fasulo, Elijah Figuera, Monique Fisher, Zipporah Gatling, Alexis Hart, Ali Herlands, Carina Kahane, Tia LaBarbera, Kristina Lagasca, Candace Lee Camacho, Kyla Long, Wing Luck Chin, Madison Marino, Joseph Marshel, Kira Maxim, Alfred Mendez, Talila Meredith, Isabella Morales, Emma Morcroft, Klaudia Morelowska, Liz Nunez, Malek O’Galdez, Traiquan Payne, Eva Pena, Lovely Philema, Christian Quiles, Jasmine Ritter, Gabrielle Rivera, Amanda Santamaria, Kelson Saul, Emma Schlagcheck, TJ Simanetti, Zephra Soto, Justine Thompson, Demelina Valonzo, Casey White, Peace Yigon, Bryanna Young

Music Unites Speaks at The Influencer Conference

On October 7, 2011, Michelle Edgar, along with Music Unites Artist Caitlin Moe and Music Unites Youth Choir participant Candace Lee Camacho, shared their stories at The Influencer Conference about how music empowers, inspires, and unites. The InfluencerCon, gathers taste makers and influences who seek to identify, understand and support influencer culture globally. The goal is to continue to be at the forefront of the conversation about the influencer ecosystem and its importance to mainstream media and business. "Today was very much beyond amazing. This music is so good to me, and it is because of this gorgeous foundation I'm getting from Music Unites, the brilliant Michelle Edgar and her dedicated team. This family is the best to have with a movement that is forever growing and changing; our music is forever growing and changing, but it is also forever uniting," said Candace.

Music Unites Receives Grant From D'Addario Music Foundation

The D’Addario Music Foundation is proud to provide a cash and product award in support of the Music Unites After-School Guitar Program at the Women’s Academy of Excellence. In keeping with the D’Addario Music Foundation mission, with the launching of this program Music Unites is committed to providing students an opportunity to be exposed to the guitar and all of the benefits and joy of learning to play an instrument.

DPS PlugIn's and Music Unites

Music Unites has entered into a groundbreaking fundraising venture with Bongiovi Acoustics, developers of the patented Digital Power Station™ (DPS) audio enhancement technology. Music Unites will enable users worldwide to purchase the DPS Plug-In at a $5 discount ($29.99 reg. price) while Bongiovi Acoustics donates $2 for a single DPS Plug-In download to the charity. 100% of the donation goes directly to Music Unites. The DPS Plug-In, available for both Windows and Mac, can be sampled for free and purchased via secure transaction at dsplugin.com. “We are extremely excited to be part of this project. This innovative program enables Music Unites to expand our fundraising efforts to a global scale with virtually no administrative headaches and 100% goes directly to the charity," says Music Unites founder, Michelle Edgar.

Pledge Music and Fishbone Campaign!

FISHBONE, with their frenzied, upbeat music and frantic, euphorically entertaining stage show, will be releasing their highly anticipated new EP, "Crazy Glue" (DC-Jam Records) on October 11, 2011, along with their monumental documentary, “Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone” on October 7, 2011. "Crazy Glue" will be available for purchase online everywhere and select stores nationwide. Pre-sale bundles, with never-before-released merchandise, will be available exclusively at PledgeMusic.com starting September 9, 2011 for limited time only and a portion of proceeds will go directly to Music Unites.

Kidzapalooza

Five lucky students who competed in the VH1 Save the Music and Music Unites essay contest, "Kidz Love Music", had the opportunity to enjoy the festivities of Kidzapalooza this year all thanks to a very generous donation from Tor Hyams, producer and co-founder of Kidzaplaooza.

"It's important to empower the next generation by providing opportunities to students who traditionally would not be exposed to music. We felt it was important to give back to the Chicago community and were very excited to support both Music Unites and VH1 Save the Music as we share their collective passion to help save music education in public schools," says Tor Hyams, producer and co-founder of Kidzapalooza.

Artists and celebrities also stopped in backstage to sign the Music Unites rubber duck which will be auctioned off at our Postelles & Surf Lodge benefit event with all proceeds going toward Music Unites mission to save and sustain music education!

Do You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star?

On August 3, Rolling Stone's ‘Do You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star?’ finalist, The Sheepdogs together with music industry luminaries, VIPs and media, gathered at the Empire Hotel Rooftop in New York to celebrate the unveiling of the cover and raise funds for Music Unites.

Rolling Stone’s ‘Do You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star?’ contest began with 16 unsigned acts competing for the most coveted prize in music: the cover of Rolling Stone. After four rounds of public voting, the two finalists battled it out on stage last month at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN. The ultimate winner, in addition to being the first unsigned act to ever appear on the cover, will also receive a recording contract with Atlantic Records.

The Sheepdogs were joined by the Editors of Rolling Stone and Music Unites founder and Executive Director Michelle Edgar at the cover reveal party. Additional music was provided by DJ Paul Sevigny.

Music Unites, The National Jazz Museum, and the World Wide Workshop want YOU to help create a video game!

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem is teaming up with the World Wide Workshop to create an innovative VIDEO GAME! We are looking for 6 special young people between the ages of 13-19 who we'll select and appoint as our official game designers.

NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

This team of 6 prospective candidates must have the facility to present strong ideas, yet create and incorporate the ideas of the team as a whole. An emphasis is placed on the candidate's ability to use JAZZ music, innovation, and a compelling video game objective to efficiently create a product that will attract both young people and adults alike. Prospective candidates should have the facility to adopt World Wide Workshop and the National Museum of Harlem's existing visual identity. No previous experience necessary. Only requirement: captivating, original ideas.

The programming will take place for 3 weeks from July 6 - July 27 (Mon-Fri only) at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem office. In the afternoons the 6 game designers will collaborate on creating this new game. The experience will be interactive, including live performances, masterclasses, and trips to many exciting and historic NYC jazz locations.

The host for the entire summer workshop is rising star pianist Jonathan Batiste and his band. Each day he will have something unique to offer, never boring, and allowing the 6 game designers to truly immerse themselves in this music we call JAZZ!

TO ENTER: Send us an email at info@musicunites.org telling us why we should choose you! Be creative and good luck!