BOSTON & STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The GRAMMY™ Music Education Coalition, a non-profit collective seeking to increase music-making among students in American public schools, today announced that HARMAN International Industries, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, has joined the Coalition’s Founders Circle with a commitment to fund and resource HARMAN Inspired recording studios in New York, Nashville and Philadelphia public schools and create dedicated programming to encourage more girls to pursue studies and careers in music.
Coalition Founders Circle members provide essential resources to well-vetted music education programs and innovative faculty in underserved American school systems. The coalition’s work has begun in public schools in three inaugural cities — New York, Philadelphia and Nashville. Over time the work will expand to other urban, suburban and rural communities.
The Coalition partners with each school system to design programs based on specific needs that will have the greatest collective impact and become sustainable over time. The Coalition intends to add additional school systems to its charter based on need and available funding in the future.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome HARMAN as a Founders Circle member,” said Lee Whitmore, Ed.D, Executive Director of the GRAMMY Music Education Coalition. “HARMAN's industry leadership in music, audio and technology, and their deep commitment to young people, music education, and community, make them a critical partner in our work.”
“Music education is a critical endeavor that contributes to the personal and professional development of young people and the health and vitality of communities,” said Dinesh Paliwal, HARMAN President and CEO. “HARMAN is proud to build on our relationship with the GRAMMY organization, as the longtime official sound of the GRAMMYs and as a three-time award winner by joining the GRAMMY Music Education Coalition Founder’s Circle. We look forward to working with Coalition partners, some of whom we already have deep relationships with, to inspire and empower more young people to make music.”
HARMAN is committed to advancing music and STEM education, encouraging its 30,000 employees around the world to engage in local community efforts that leverage technology and hands-on, immersive experiences. For three years, the Company has served as the official technology partner of Little Kids Rock, a coalition partner, underwriting its online Jam Zone curriculum aimed at students and teachers. HARMAN also partners with the Make Music Alliance to fund HARMAN Street Studios around the world on Make Music Day held in June. In India, the Company supports AR Rahman’s Sunshine Orchestra and continues to fund community-based programs throughout Asia, Europe and South America.
About HARMAN Inspired
HARMAN Inspired (www.harman.com/inspired) is HARMAN International’s global cause movement created to prepare the next generation of technology leaders through unique, immersive and meaningful experiences in music, technology and community service. In collaboration with leading nonprofits around the globe, HARMAN Inspired connects young people to diverse opportunities that motivate them to learn and develop skills and interests in pursuit of careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Technology (STEAM). HARMAN focuses its efforts in the 120 communities across 30 countries where our 30,000 people live and work. On a global scale, we are the official technology partner of Little Kids Rock, the official sound of the Grammy Music Education Coalition and the official sound of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In STEAM, we are a part of the Iridescent Technovation challenge and support young women in tech through the 1,000 Dreams Fund. In 2017, HARMAN Inspired reached nearly one million students through the HARMAN music education program and launched sustainable and charitable programs. HARMAN became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics in 2017.
About the GRAMMY™ Music Education Coalition
The GRAMMY Music Education Coalition (GMEC) is a first-of-its-kind nonprofit 501(c)(3) collective of more than 30 of the most forward-thinking music education organizations. We are leading systemic change at the elementary and secondary public-school levels by working with districts to provide needs-based grants, increase the number of students actively engaged in music instruction and music making, and build skills that benefit children academically, emotionally and socially. For more information on the GMEC and its education initiatives, visit www.grammymusiced.org.
