Posted December 29 2009 by Chris
Check out the Featured Music January 22nd at Spill The Wine in Minneapolis. Make sure you buy your tickets for the 2nd Annual Benefit Concert!
Cottage Grove Alumni Phil Jents
Phil Jents was inspired to play guitar at age 14 when his older brother Matt was teaching himself how to play. He always encouraged him and helped Phil lay the groundwork for what is now an incredible love and appreciation for music. Other musical inspirations include Mason Jennings, Jack Johnson, and Bob Dylan.
“I grew up with music always around me and it has been an integral part of my development. Viva Musica is working to give children the gift of music, to give them an opportunity to explore different ways to express themselves. This is an incredible thing. It is something I am proud and honored of which to be a part.”
One Night Stand
“Music is just one of those things that is there your whole life.”
- Jon Belanger Bassist
One Night Stand is a band from Brainerd, MN. They are making their 2nd appearance at a Viva Musica event. This group of musicians, educators and students understand the value of music in our schools.
After School Special
“We are After School Special out of Rochester, MN. We are made up of mostly teachers and others involved in the education field. We volunteered to play for this event because we believe it is important for students to get to experience music in schools. Music has played an important part of every member of the band’s lives growing up, which is why we love to perform!” -Jamey Strand, After School Special
This band of musicians is made of a very talented artists who are also involved in education! They will have you signing along and tapping your toes in no time! After School Special has a great set list. Check out their site for a sneak preview.
Click here to buy tickets!
Posted December 01 2009 by Chris
Viva Musica is proud to announce its 2nd Annual Benefit concert will be taking place at Spill the Wine in Minneapolis on Friday, January 22nd!
Seating is limited to 200 people, so buy your tickets early! Tickets go on sale for $20 each on December 5th when you purchase online. They will be $23 at the door the day of the event.
Funds from this concert will be used to donate a new digital piano to Pine Hill Elementary in Cottage Grove, MN. They were the chosen recipients for this year’s Viva Musica Grant. Read the story here!
One Night Stand from Baxter, MN will be returning as the opening act for the event. Other musical acts will be announced! Artwork will also be featured throughout the evening. If you are interested in showing your items or if you know of any children who would like to display their work, please email info@vivamusica.org.
Viva Musica is seeking volunteers to help with the event:
- 6 people to volunteer at the door to check names off the list
- 6 people to help set up an hour before the event
- 6 people to volunteer for clean up and tear down for an hour after
- Volunteers to help publicize the event
Please email info@vivamusica.org if you have any ideas or are willing to help out!
Event Details
Parking is available near the event, or use the valet for $6.
If you are unable to attend the event, we encourage everyone to donate what you can. We understand that money is tight everywhere. However, even a gift of $5, $10 or $20 can make an impact to support the music and art programs in our local schools. For more information or to donate please click here!
Posted December 01 2009 by Chris
Each year Viva Musica accepts applications from schools across the state of Minnesota for our annual grant. This year, we will be donating the funds to Pine Hill Elementary School in Cottage Grove, MN.
They have asked for a Yamaha portable grand piano. It is an electronic keyboard for everyday classroom music education and will also be used in school performances. The piano has different settings that give Pine Hill Elementary students access to 503 instruments (with more available on-line that can be downloaded using the USB port.) 88 of those settings are authentic samplings of percussion instruments that can be played by students in classroom rhythm ensembles as young as Kindergarten.
“I have found that a quality keyboard is essential to my teaching… Consistent use of the keyboard quickly and strongly develops all students’ ability to confidently sing in tune, which is a skill necessary for a future lifetime of participation in many types of music.” -Mr. Sandberg
We will be holding a fundraising concert in January to raise funds for their new piano!
Thank you all the schools that applied for the 2010 Viva Musica Grant! Please apply again next year!
Posted February 10 2009 by Chris
The Watertown-Mayer Middle School Band Program received proceeds from Viva Musica’s 1st Annual Benefit Concert to help improve the quality and quantity of percussion instruments to better match the number of band students and their advanced skill levels.
Without a functional percussion section, the band’s success is significantly limited. The funds raised from this event will purchase new, long-lasting, high quality percussion instruments, replace broken auxiliary percussion instruments, repair current percussion instruments, and build new cabinetry and storage for percussion instruments. As a result of these improvements to the Watertown-Mayer Middle School Band Program, every band student will experience creativity, imagination, and musicianship at a much higher level.
This effort has inspiring potential as this benefit concert will pump new excitement and energy into the students of Watertown-Mayer Middle School!
Congratulations Jacob Morris and the Watertown-Mayer Middle School Bands!
Read the article on Viva Musica in the Sun Patriot Newspaper
The benefit was held February 20th at Five Event Center in Minneapolis. Bands that played in support of Viva Musica’s mission were One Night Stand and Steve Sullivan and the Factory.
The event hosted artwork by local artists including Haley Champion. Aligning the hallways were also works from 2nd graders from Minneapolis and 6-9th graders from Stevens Point, WI.
Thank you to all the artists and musicians who shared their talents!
