NASHVILLE –The CMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association (CMA), has proudly partnered with chart-topping, CMA Award-winning Country Music star Ashley McBryde to launch its inaugural Artist Ambassador program as part of its Unified Voices for Music Education (UVfME) initiative. The brand-new Artist Ambassador program further expands the organization’s awareness and advocacy efforts in support of music educators, students and teachers as they continue to face many challenges amidst the current global health pandemic. McBryde shared details about her involvement in the program this week on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
As the first UVfME Artist Ambassador, McBryde will use her voice to advocate for music education throughout the month of November. Before pursuing a career as an artist, McBryde attended college with her sights set on becoming a band director, knowing firsthand the importance of music education in students’ lives. McBryde will work with music educators in a variety of ways including creating an original band-specific video lesson plan, meeting virtually with music educators to discuss challenges they are facing during this time and sharing how music education led to her career in Country Music.
"I am so excited to be the CMA Foundation's first Unified Voices for Music Education Artist Ambassador,” says McBryde. “Music education has always been a big part of my life and has had an enormous impact on the musician and writer I am today. It is a career highlight to be a small part of a program that will better allow teachers and students a chance to engage with music education during such unprecedented times.”
“The CMA Foundation is thrilled to have Ashley McBryde as our first Unified Voices for Music Education Artist Ambassador,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “Ashley’s passion for music is evident in her career as a Country artist and her enthusiasm for music education is unmatched. We are excited for her to be involved with the UVfME initiative throughout November, as she finds creative ways to encourage music educators during this time and develops resources for students to access nationwide.”
The CMA Foundation launched UVfME in July in response to a need for resources, stemming from COVID-19’s impact on music education. The online collective serves as a place where music educators can interface through lesson plans and other creative methods, as they find innovative ways to teach and connect with students during this unprecedented school year. UVfME is a collaborative effort guided and executed by a network of music education professionals from across the country in partnership with the CMA Foundation.
The CMA Foundation will continue to provide resources and support music educators through UVfME, as more artist ambassadors are revealed in the coming months.
About the CMA Foundation
Established in 2011 as the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association (CMA), the CMA Foundation is committed to improving and sustaining high-quality music education programs across the United States, working to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in music. Through strategic partnerships, professional development and grant distribution, the CMA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), has invested more than $27 million across the national public school system, after school programs, summer camps and community outreach organizations. Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, proceeds from CMA Fest, the four-day music festival held in Nashville, are used to power the CMA Foundation’s social impact and unique model of giving.