Disney and the GRAMMY Foundation to Auction Hand-Painted String Basses for Music Education
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(April 30, 2010) To commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Disney Magic Music Days, Disney Youth Programs at Walt Disney World Resort, the GRAMMY Foundation and Conn-Selmer, Inc. are donating five unique hand-painted string basses at auction on June 26, 2010. A patron of the performing arts, Disney Magic Music Days has showcased performances of more than 30,000 student musical groups from all over the world at Disney theme parks since the program’s inception in 1975.
The proceeds from the sale will benefit music education programs of the GRAMMY Foundation, which works year-round to bring national attention to the value and impact of music and arts education. The Foundation will assist in the auction and distribute funds to school music programs in the U.S.
Designed and painted by world-renowned Walt Disney Animation Studio artists, the string basses debuted in February at the GRAMMY Museum® in Los Angeles, Calif. before a live audience. Since then, the one-of-a-kind instruments themed after Disney movies Princess and The Frog, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Aladdin, and Dumbo have toured the country at music and art museums as part of a national campaign. Currently, the Princess and The Frog bass instrument is on display in the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and will remain on exhibit until a week before the auction.
“We are so proud of the millions of students whose lives have been impacted from their experience at Disney Magic Music Days,” said Tim Hill, director of Special Programs for Disney Youth Programs for Disney Destinations. “We can’t think of a better way to celebrate 25 years than with giving back to music education.”
Following the tour, the five string basses will be sold to the highest bidder by Julien's Auctions at their summer entertainment event at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. For more information, please visit www.disneyartformusic.com or juliensauctions.com.
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About Disney Magic Music Days
Disney Magic Music Days was launched in 1985 and has showcased the talents of millions of student and community performing artists at the Disney Theme Parks, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in the entertainment industry. The program is open to organized performing groups of all ages at the Disneyland Resort in California, the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland.
About the GRAMMY Foundation
The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture — from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy®, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit GRAMMYInTheSchools.com.
About Julien’s Acutions
Julien's Auctions provides expertise specializing in entertainment memorabilia, and has quickly established itself as the premier auction house in high-end celebrity estates and entertainment auctions. Julien's Auctions presents exciting, professionally managed and extremely successful auctions with full color high quality auction catalogs. Julien's Auctions has worked with celebrities and philanthropic organizations raising millions of dollars for various charities over the past 6 years.
About Conn-Selmer, Inc.
Conn-Selmer, Inc. is the leading manufacturer and distributor of band and orchestral instruments for professional, amateur and student use. The Company manufactures and distributes its products under a variety of well-known brand names, including Vincent Bach brass, Selmer USA woodwinds, C.G. Conn brass, King brass, Armstrong woodwinds, Ludwig and Musser percussion and Glaesel string instruments. Other brands include Scherl & Roth and William Lewis & Son string instruments, Avanti flutes, Emerson flutes, and Benge brass. Under its Leblanc, Inc. division, purchased in 2004, the company also manufactures and distributes Leblanc, Holton, Noblet, and Vito band instruments. Conn-Selmer is also the exclusive North American distributor for Selmer (Paris) professional brass and woodwinds and U.S. distributor for Yanagisawa saxophones.
-- Posted April 30, 2010