LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 28, 2013) – The GRAMMY Museum’s acclaimed Music Revolution Project, an education initiative developed in 2012, has confirmed an expansion of the program into Tampa, Fl., as announced by Bob Santelli, Executive Director of The GRAMMY Museum. Having debuted as a pilot program last year in Kansas City, Mo, The GRAMMY Museum’s Music Revolution Project offers talented youth the opportunity to engage in musical workshops, songwriting courses, mentoring sessions, and the opportunity to record the material they’ve written in order to be analyzed by music-industry leaders.
With generous support from Jon & Lisa Yob of the Yob Family Foundation, The Tampa Bay Times Forum and a variety of local Tampa businesses and corporations, The GRAMMY Museum’s Music Revolution Project stimulates creative young musicians by connecting them with GRAMMY-level artists. During The GRAMMY Museum’s summer pilot program in 2012, 24 emerging young artists participated in an intensive, four-week curriculum including instruction, rehearsals and mentoring at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and Sprint Center, two iconic venues located in downtown Kansas City, Mo. In February 2013, the Kansas City students were invited to attend the GRAMMY-Awards show in Los Angeles, CA.
“We are thrilled to be expanding The GRAMMY Museum’s Music Revolution Project into Florida,” said GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli. “Through the passion and commitment of our first-class partners paired with a dynamic music and arts community in the Tampa Bay region, it is our hope that we can help develop a new generation of innovative music talent.”
Local Tampa-area high school and college students interested in The Music Revolution Project are encouraged to attend an informational session to be held on Saturday, April 13 at 1:00 p.m. at The Tampa Bay Times Forum. Interested parents and educators are also invited to learn additional details including the screening process and planned curriculum at the session, which will be hosted by Santelli. To RSVP for the April 13 session, please email education@grammymuseum.org.
Created to broaden musical and creative skills while helping establish relationships, the program is also designed to increase self-esteem, help students develop entrepreneurial skills and grow their passion for music. The program, is underwritten by Tampa-area foundations and businesses, and will be entirely free to all students who are selected to participate. The program will begin on July 22 and will culminate with a formal concert on August 16.
“Arts education has been demonstrated to improve our kids’ scores on standardized tests, make them more likely to go to college, increase their marketability in the workforce, as well as bring joy into their lives,” said Lisa Yob, Director of Philanthropy for the Yob Family Foundation. “We could not be more proud to help bring this landmark program to Tampa Bay.”
About Jon Yob
Jonathan Yob, founder and President of the Yob Family Foundation is a Tampa based entrepreneur and philanthropist with a passion for child welfare advocacy. Mr. Yob has volunteered in support of community causes for almost three decades. Starting in the early 1990’s, before computer ownership was prevalent, he donated thousands of computers to help bridge the digital divide. He has personally volunteered to assist numerous community causes including The Tampa General Hospital Auxiliary, Joshua House, Friend’s of Joshua House, Kids Charity of Tampa Bay, A Kid’s Place (ex officio), For the Family, Prevent Blindness Florida, Tampa General Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit, etc. Through the Yob Family Foundation, Yob’s efforts have assisted over 50 non profit organizations impacting thousands of lives. While much of the YFF efforts have centered primarily around the Tampa Bay Area, some of the YFF projects are national such as its relationship with the Grammy Museum, as well as projects in Africa to support orphaned children from the Rwanda genocide.