NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 30, 2008) — Yamaha Artist in Education endorsee Matthew Fogg, together with the help of King Middle School music professor Joe Farrell, is organizing the first ever Bridge Music Festival from 3 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. on June 12 at Lyman Moore Middle School in Portland, Maine. Fogg is a music educator at the middle school and a practicing jazz pianist in the Portland area.
The purpose of the festival is to promote music education, bring the school and greater community together, raise money for the music programs at the middle schools and encourage supporting local and live music.
Fogg, who plays Yamaha digital pianos, was officially endorsed by Yamaha in August 2007 because of his dedication to teaching and creating music, and this festival truly validates Fogg's passion. Fogg felt motivated to create this upcoming festival because of his firsthand experience with music and education.
"All of the artists that have committed to performing in this festival have been positively impacted by their music teachers and school music programs," Fogg said. "In my case, music paid my entire tuition for four years of college at the University of New Hampshire."
In an effort to bridge programs in music education at Portland's middle schools with popular music acts and professional musicians in the Portland area, the festival will feature several professional Portland area acts, including Jay Drew and A Moving Train, the Delta Knights and the Tone Kings, as well as student musicians from Portland's middle schools. The musicians will perform at the Lyman Moore Sports Field.
"Art and music are basic and elemental to humanity, and my hope is that this festival will allow people to walk away with a greater understanding of the positive impact music programs have on children," said Fogg.
— Artist in Education endorsee hopes to bridge local and live musicians —
