Legendary Producer and Music Rising Co-Founder Bob Ezrin and special guests will introduce an innovative research/learning site at Musical Cultures Jam on Tulane’s campus.
NEW ORLEANS (April 17, 2014) – The Music Rising at Tulane initiative will launch an innovative website focusing on the musical cultures of the Gulf South at 1pm CST on Wednesday, April 23rd in the Wilson Center Atrium on Tulane University’s uptown campus. This site features original content, artists’ biographies, K-12 learning modules and a state-of-the-art music instructional program.
As defined by its strategic plan, one of the core missions of Tulane’s School of Liberal Arts is to be the nation’s leader in teaching and research of the Gulf South. Through the support of Music Rising and the organization’s mission to provide support for scholars who are working in the region, the School’s New Orleans Center for the Gulf South has been able to provide support and offer lectures and symposia of interest both to scholars and the public. Music Rising played a leadership role in establishing the coordinate major on the musical cultures of the Gulf South, which explores the area’s cultural identity through its global influences, historical roots and artistic expressions. Because of Music Rising’s support and engagement, innovative service learning classes, such as the Trombone Shorty Academy, break down the walls between classroom and community, creating unmatched opportunities for the exchange of ideas and experience.
“Our partnership with Music Rising has provided us the ability to turn our goal of being a leader in the study of the Gulf South into a reality,” said Carole Haber, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts. “Through our shared vision, we have been able to create a truly inspiring program, an interdisciplinary coordinate major, and a platform for artists throughout the region and innovative website which we will showcase at the launch. Because of Music Rising’s support, generations of students and scholars – both in New Orleans and around the world – will serve as producers, consumers and advocates for the unique musical cultures of the Gulf South.”
Legendary music producer Bob Ezrin will participate in the press event, which is being billed as a Musical Cultures Jam. Participants will have a hands-on experience at multiple laptop stations allowing them to navigate the new site – a one-stop shop to discover the music and artistry of every genre from blues, rock, zydeco and jazz to the rhythms of Congo Square and the Second Line tradition. A specialized, interactive program featuring music masters performing New Orleans grooves will make its regional debut on the Music Rising at Tulane website.
“This is a remarkable milestone for Music Rising,” said U2’s the Edge, co-founder of Music Rising. “Out of this partnership we were able to create a program which fosters national and international study through the work of K-12 educators and university scholars. I hope that this is only the beginning of an opportunity to provide future generations of students a chance to experience the colorful and dynamic musical history from this very special part of the world. On behalf of myself and our entire Music Rising team I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this happen.”
“Our partners at Tulane University have created a remarkable program about the musical cultures and traditions of the Gulf Region, the soul of Music Rising,” said music producer and Music Rising co-founder Bob Ezrin. “I don’t know of anything else like this in the country and I am very proud to know that Music Rising has helped foster such an innovative course of study.”
Music Rising at Tulane fosters national and international study through the work of K-12 educators and university scholars. The program is dedicated to the study, preservation, and the promotion of musical cultures of the Gulf region, including the states of Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas, as well as the Caribbean, Latin America, and the African diaspora.
Music Rising at Tulane is a partnership between Tulane University and Music Rising – an organization with an initial goal that included the restoration and preservation of New Orleans’ unique musical traditions immediately after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Since then it has gone on to become a national disaster relief fund for music education and has supplied aid to thousands of music students, professional musicians and church members. Music Rising is now administered by Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. For more information go to www.musicrising.org.