Kelli Pickler, Mayor Dean a Big Hit at Fall-Hamilton
Country singer Kelli Pickler, CMA CEO Tammy Genovese and Mayor Karl Dean were a big hit at Fall-Hamilton earlier this month when they helped unload more than 675 musical instruments. The equipment was donated to MNPS through Keep the Music Playing, a program that donates half the proceeds of the CMA Music Festival to the Nashville Alliance for Public Education for music education needs in Metro's public schools.

The instruments – flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, French horns, tubas, xylophones, trombones, drums, bells, oboes, bassoons, cymbals, cellos, basses and other pieces – were purchased with a gift of $655,624 by CMA from proceeds of the 2007 CMA Music Festival.  Schools receiving the instruments include: Antioch Middle, Apollo, Bailey, Bass, Bellevue, Croft, Ewing Park, Dupont Hadley, Gra Mar, H.G. Hill, Hume-Fogg, Hunters Lane, J.E. Moss, John Early, J.F. Kennedy, Litton, McGavock, McKissack, McMurray, Marshall, Martin Luther King, Meigs, Oliver, Overton, Pearl-Cohn, Ruby Majors, Stratford and Wright.

The contribution is part of a continuing effort by CMA to support music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools. In addition to contributing funds, CMA is involving students in this year’s CMA Music Festival and providing free family events. For more information about this year’s festival, including ordering tickets, please visit www.cmafest.com.