40 New Guitars Donated To Burbank School Music Programs

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Photo By Ross A. Benson

Burbank Arts For All proudly announces the generous donation of 40 brand new guitars and 40 brand new cables from the Traveling Guitar Foundation, ESP Guitars and Mogami Cable.  The donation going to four instrumental programs at Burbank High School, John Burroughs High School, John Muir Middle School and Jordan Middle School will impact over 900 students.  Traveling Guitar Foundation founder and renowned musician Damon Marks presented the guitars.  Appearing with Marks was Soul/rocksta “Derek McKeith” (TGF Director, West Coast Programs), pop rockers “Time Will Tell”, Michael Jackson’s niece and Founder of People of Poetry Yashi Brown.   The presentations took place during school assemblies the week of November 7-11, 2011.

Photo By Ross A. Benson

In making the announcement, Craig Murray and Alexandra Helfrich, co-chairpersons of Burbank Arts For All, jointly stated, “We are extremely grateful to the Traveling Guitar Foundation’s founder Damon Marks along with ESP Guitars and Mogami Cable for this generous gift that will enrich  so many of our students’ lives.  Donations such as this will help to ensure that our students continue to receive a quality arts education as part of their core curriculum.”

Acclaimed guitarist/songwriter and Traveling Guitar Foundation founder Damon Marks said, “When the country faces budgetary restraints the arts programs are always the first to vanish from schools.  Our mission is to foster creativity and intellectual growth through the arts programs.  Burbank Arts for All and the Burbank Unified schools work hard to keep these programs alive and we are proud to help them in their mission by presenting them with ESP Guitars along with musical performances.”

“The Burbank Unified School District is not only sustaining arts programming through this challenging budget crisis, but also expanding their arts education programs through unique donations like this one,” added Peggy Flynn, Arts Coordinator for the Burbank Unified School District.   “To have the opportunity for our students to not only receive the ESP Guitars,

Photo By Ross A. Benson

but to perform with such a talented and compassionate human being as Damon Marks, along with the other renowned artists, will truly leave an indelible mark on their young lives.”

ESP Guitars director of marketing and artist relations Allen Steelgrave says, “From the moment we heard about what Damon Marks is doing with the Traveling Guitar Foundation, we admired his commitment to enriching the lives of children with music.  The series of events for the Burbank School District will give hundreds of kids an opportunity that they would have never had without Damon’s efforts. We’re proud to be a small part of it.”

Guitars were donated to the Muir Music Program on Thursday during a school assembly. (Photo By Ross A. Benson)
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