The D’Addario Foundation, longtime champions for accessible music instruction, are proud to announce Back 2 School Class of 2019 which will take place at Los Angeles’s historic Palace Theatre, their first event of this kind in Southern California, on November 2nd. As a 501c3 non-profit, the money raised by The D’Addario Foundation at this benefit will provide kids access to amazing music programs, provide college assistance scholarships, and encourage more females to pick up guitars and rock out through D’Addario’s Girls In Music Initiative.
In partnership with BGS and Kensington Presents, Back 2 School will feature house band and Los Angeles institution, The Watkins Family Hour, with acclaimed producer, songwriter, and artist Mike Viola. A world-class cast of musicians will join Sara and Sean Watkins and their collaborative Family Hour crew over the course of the evening. Prolific songwriter and My Morning Jacket frontman, Jim James , platinum-selling musician and Emmy nominated actress Mandy Moore , silver screen troubadour John C Reilly , straight-shooting singer-songwriter LP , everyman Americana hero Langhorne Slim , Los Angeles’s own comedy-folk duo Garfunkel & Oates , six-string renaissance man Blake Mills, and one half of The Bird And The Bee, Inara George , will all take the stage to raise money for The D’Addario Foundation. Fans should also keep an eye out for additional artist announcements in the coming weeks. Tickets , priced from $50 to $250, will be available here on Friday, September 20th, with a password-accessible pre-sale on Wednesday, September 18th.
As the philanthropic arm of D’Addario, the world’s largest manufacturer of music instrument accessories—The D’Addario Foundation utilizes up to 10% of D’Addario’s net earnings each year to fund over 200 non-profit programs. And D’Addario absorbs all operational costs, ensuring 100% of every dollar goes directly to support music programs globally. “Bringing music instruction back into schools and communities is a simple but deeply powerful way to improve our education system and boost creativity and academic achievement in students,” says D’Addario Foundation Executive Director, Suzanne D’Addario Brouder. “The D’Addario Foundation is a leader in finding and partnering with the highest quality music programs in the neediest areas.” Through the foundation’s action, real-life metrics show incredibly positive results. “In neighborhoods where the high school dropout rate hovers at 50%, over 95% of participating students are graduating on time and applying to college,” adds Brouder. “Many are the first generation in their family to attend college.”
VIP ticket options are also available for those who wish to upgrade their Back 2 School experience. VIP will include premium seating (center orchestra or first two rows of mezzanine), a VIP laminate, and a priority entry lane. Gold Circle VIP includes premium seating (first four rows of orchestra), a free drink/cocktail, an event poster, and the aforementioned VIP laminate and priority entry lane. All tickets are available here.
In addition to catching once-in-a-lifetime performances and collaborations amongst world-class musicians, Back 2 School attendees will be contributing directly to The D’Addario Foundation’s mission to put music education back in the forefront and into the lives of those who otherwise might not have these opportunities. “The bottom line is kids need lots more music as part of their education and your support makes that possible,” adds Brouder to further emphasize their mission statement. “We believe in the power of music to unlock creativity, boost self-confidence, and enhance academics. By making music education accessible, we can positively affect social change and foster better citizens of the world.” For more information on the foundation, please click here.
