Museum of Making Music Benefit Helps Fund 'Access to Music'

The Museum of Making Music (MoMM) raised more than $40,000 at its August 23 gala auction, which featured a lavish live auction and silent auction, and a powerful performance by Santana vocalist Greg Walker.  The funds raised from the auctions, which included a beautiful variety of donated music products such as electric and acoustic guitars, a Celtic harp, a banjo, and ukuleles, as well as music lessons, accessories and music books, help offset the $60,000 annual cost of operating the Museum’s many educational programs.

“This outpouring of generosity from the Museum community helps insure that the Museum will be able to continue to do its part to open doors to music making for people of any age,” said Museum executive director Carolyn Grant. “Access to music is what the Museum strives for, and we are supremely grateful for the support of this cause in which we so deeply believe.”

The sold-out crowd enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvre and an upbeat, patriotic performance by Bunnell Strings, a sibling quintet, while browsing generously donated auction items such as a Maui vacation, a mountain getaway, and a dinner party prepared and hosted by the Carlsbad Firefighters. Fervid bidding for live auction items culminated with the highest bid of the night going for a behind-the-scenes tour of Pixar Studios.  

In a special tribute, Grant presented the Inspiration Award to Kamau Kenyatta, whom Grant glowingly described as a musician, performer, educator, composer, producer, arranger, mentor, scholar and friend. Currently a faculty member at UCSD, Kenyatta has scored ground-breaking documentaries and contributed as a producer and arranger to GRAMMY-nominated CDs. At Friday’s gala, he was lauded by Grant, and honored for championing the Museum of Making Music for more than a decade by bringing brilliant international musicians through its doors and by assisting with the development of quality, equal-access programming.

Greg Walker, a vocalist well known for his contribution to some of Santana’s most memorable hits, performed two sets for the crowd, including a soulful medley of Motown songs.  Walker made an obvious and warm connection with his audience with his renditions of the familiar “She’s Not There,” “Stormy,” and “Black Magic Woman.”

The evening owed much of its success to the generous donations by Museum members, volunteers and patrons, NAMM members, and community patrons.  Alfred Music, The Belly Up, The Blue Guitar, Buffalo Brothers, Cordoba Guitars, Deering Banjo Company, Daisy Rock, Kala Brand Music Company, Taylor Guitars, Take Lessons.com, Zuza Printing, Petals on the Point, Flowers Forever, O’Sullivan’s, Vigilucci’s, Stone Brewery, South Coast Winery, Rubio’s, Bull Taco and others donated to the fundraising event.

Each year, the Museum of Making Music provides access to music and music making through a variety of educational outreach programs that impact thousands of adults, seniors, students, and children.  These efforts include the museum’s Title One Fieldtrip Program, an annual venture that provides free access to the museum for low-income students from Carlsbad and the neighboring communities of Vista, Oceanside, San Marcos, and Escondido; the Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary School Partnership—providing 30 minutes of weekly in-school hands-on music classes for more than 800 low-income and at-risk students; and a scholarship program that enables fixed-income adults and seniors the opportunity to learn a musical instrument in the North Coastal New Horizons Band or North Coast Strings orchestra.

About The Museum of Making Music
Since opening to the public in 2000, the Museum of Making Music has become a cultural destination with interactive and educational programs and exhibits.  The Museum showcases the evolution of musical instruments from the late 19th century to present day in five galleries, and regularly hosts intimate concerts, educational outreach programs, and hands-on workshops to introduce the public to the history of American music products.  General admission to the museum is $8; $5 for students, seniors and active military. Children age five and under receive free admission.  The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed Mondays.  For more information, call (760) 438-5996 or visit www.museumofmakingmusic.org.