Arts and Culture

StubHub Hosts “Technologists for Music Education” Panel in San Francisco

Published

10 years ago

August 13, 2014

StubHub hosted their “Technologists for Music Education” panel discussion this week at their San Francisco headquarters. Moderated by broadcaster Dave Clark, the event featured a conversation with the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation (MHOF) and the San Francisco Arts Commission.

Panelists included Felice Mancini, President and CEO of Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and Program Director, Tricia Steel. San Francisco Arts Commissioner Marcus Shelby and Music Director Randy Porter of Westlake Middle School in Oakland were also guest speakers.

The discussion allowed the community to engage panelists on the importance of music in the schools and, the much needed support of the tech and corporate communities. Panelists also discussed how music reaches children who may struggle with traditional school classes and how music classes build self esteem and academics.

“The Technologists for Music Education” is an extension of StubHub’s Next Stage Concert Series benefitting Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation an organization that donates instruments to underfunded school music programs. MHOF operates a program of the StubHub Foundation, a corporate advised fund for the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Through StubHub Rising Stars the organization supports grassroots non–profits improving access and opportunity for at-risk youth through sports and the arts.

“StubHub is using its platform to give back, invest in the music space, future artists and fans,” said StubHub Head of Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility, Emma Leggat.

According to Leggat, the collaboration has raised nearly $140,000 for MHOF and will surprise three bay area schools with $50,000 in musical instruments this week.

Moderator Dave Clark shared his excitement about the event. “I’m proud to be part of an event that rallies tech companies and corporations to put dollars into music programs for schools changing the lives of children and changing the world,” he said.

“Music is a universal language that is important for a child’s growth and development,” said Westlake Middle School Music Director, Randy Porter.

This week’s Next Stage Concert Series will feature the West Lake Middle School band as the opening act for Portugal The Man at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco. All ticket sales of the sold out concert will go to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to support music in schools.

The benefit concert series is just one of a five-city tour including Nashville, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles supporting school music programs in each city.

“Our partnership with StubHub has been tremendous and we will continue to support the importance of music in schools,” said MHOF CEO Felice Mancini.

San Francisco Arts Commissioner Marcus Shelby said his exposure to a Wynton Marsalis concert at a young age helped him see music beyond sound.

“It gave me an image and it’s important for our youth to see how historically and socially music has evolved as a form of communicating,” he said. “This gives youth a sense of pride and allows young artists to solve problems and build a community.”

Audience members included Norman Bookstein of the Berkeley Symphony, Billy Tuchscher of Liquid Spins, J. Rosalynn Smith-Clark of Opera Noir and Rebeca Mauleon of SFJAZZ.

For more information visit stubhub.com/community and mhopus.org

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Arts and Culture

Richmond Preps for Full Weekend of Cinco de Mayo Festivities

Cinco de Mayo festivities in Richmond and San Pablo are some of the bests in Bay, and organizers say that tradition will be alive and well at this weekend’s annual parade and festival. The action kicks off Saturday, May 4, with the 16th Annual Cinco de Mayo Richmond/San Pablo Peace & Unity Parade. The parade of floats, performances, and community organizations starts at 10 a.m. at 24th Street and Barrett Avenue and Richmond and ends at 12:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 1845 Church Lane in San Pablo.

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Scene from the 2023 Cinco de Mayo parade from Richmond to San Pablo. Photo courtesy The Richmond Standard.

By Mike Kinney

The Richmond Standard

Cinco de Mayo festivities in Richmond and San Pablo are some of the bests in Bay, and organizers say that tradition will be alive and well at this weekend’s annual parade and festival.

The action kicks off Saturday, May 4, with the 16th Annual Cinco de Mayo Richmond/San Pablo Peace & Unity Parade. The parade of floats, performances, and community organizations starts at 10 a.m. at 24th Street and Barrett Avenue and Richmond and ends at 12:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 1845 Church Lane in San Pablo.

The parade’s Grand Marshall this year will be community organizer Diego Garcia, owner of Leftside Printing.

The festivities continue Sunday with the Cinco de Mayo Festival along 23rd Street, which last year drew over 100,000 people, according to the 23rd Street Merchants Association. This year’s festival will again run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. between the intersections of Rheem Avenue and Clinton Avenue. It will feature two entertainment stages, one sponsored by La Raza 93.3 FM at 23rd and Rheem, and another sponsored by Radio Lazer FM at 23rd and Clinton.

Both events are important for the city and the region’s Latino community.

San Pablo Mayor Genoveva Calloway, who co-chairs the parade alongside John Marquez, president of the Contra Costa Community College District Board of Trustees, says Saturday’s festivities are about bringing the Richmond and San Pablo communities together in unity.

“This truly connects the spectators and people in the parade as one,” Calloway said. “The parade showcases the real communities of Richmond and San Pablo – our nonprofits, schools, horse riders, classic cars and trucks, our local businesses. All of these people represent the heartbeat of our community.”

Rigo Mendoza, vice president of the 23rd Street Merchants Association, said that at its heart, Richmond’s Cinco de Mayo Festival celebrates the date the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

But John Marquez started up the popular festival to bring the community together and also to exhibit the community’s businesses and culture to visitors, Mendoza said. The gathering was also a way to promote peace in the community.

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Art

Mario Van Peebles’ ‘Outlaw Posse’ Screened at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Film director Mario Van Peebles, who also stars in “Outlaw Posse,” appeared at a press conference held at RBA Creative on MacArthur Boulevard hosted by the Oakland International Film Festival. Photo By Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Oakland International Film Festival hosted a screening of “Outlaw Posse” at the Grand Lake Theatre on Monday. Special guests included director/actor Mario Van Peebles and his co-star, Oakland native Scytorya Rhodes. The film is Peebles’ second western, the first being ‘Posse,’ 13 years ago. Filmmaker Van Peebles shared his passion for independent artistry and producing projects with his son, Mandela, who also starred in the film, along with Whoopi Goldberg and Cedric the Entertainer. Next week, The Post will publish an in-depth interview featuring Peebles’ reflections on his work, future projects, and continuing his father’s legacy and Rhodes on her grandfather, a real-life cowboy.

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Arts and Culture

Kedrick Armstrong: New Music Director for the Oakland Symphony

The Oakland Symphony Announced Kedrick Armstrong as its Next Music Director. In addition to conducting the orchestra’s public concerts, Armstrong will also actively participate in the Oakland Symphony’s many education and community engagement programs, designed to inspire a love of music in people of all ages.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Kedrick Armstrong is the new music director for the Oakland Symphony. Photo credit Scott Chernis.

By Post Staff

The Oakland Symphony Announced Kedrick Armstrong as its Next Music Director.
In addition to conducting the orchestra’s public concerts, Armstrong will also actively participate in the Oakland Symphony’s many education and community engagement programs, designed to inspire a love of music in people of all ages.

Armstrong is the successor to previous music director and Conductor Michael Morgan, who passed away in 2021 after a 30-year tenure at the Symphony.

Armstrong will open the Oakland Symphony 2024-2025 season on October 18.

Armstrong, who is 29 and hails from Georgetown, South Carolina, is currently the creative partner and principal conductor of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony.

The Chicago Tribune has praised Armstrong for his ability to “simply let the score speak for itself.” He enjoys a wide range of repertoire, spanning early music to premiering new works, using his joy and curiosity for all music to cultivate understanding and collaboration within diverse communities.
“I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the new music director of the Oakland Symphony,” Armstrong said. “As a Black conductor, I find it humbling to stand on the shoulders of both Michael Morgan and Calvin Simmons,” the most recent and the first African American music directors of the Symphony, respectively.

Armstrong led three programs at the Symphony between 2022 and early 2024, which showcased his broad knowledge of the classical repertoire and enthusiasm for spotlighting diverse voices.
On his Oakland Symphony subscription debut on Feb. 16, Armstrong led the world premiere of “Here I Stand: Paul Robeson,” an oratorio by Carlos Simon on a libretto by Dan Harder, commissioned by the Oakland Symphony.

Armstrong was selected unanimously by the Oakland Symphony’s board of directors and musicians after an extensive two-year search. “The search committee was overwhelmed by Kedrick’s scholarship and curiosity about all kinds of music, from classical and jazz to gospel and hip-hop,” said. Dr. Mieko Hatano, executive director of the Oakland Symphony. “We are thrilled to have him join us at the Oakland Symphony.”