SF Chapter team shines spotlight on Front Range music scene with two events 10/28, 10/29
Those “for your consideration” emails are starting to fill the in-boxes, so we know it’s GRAMMY season. The first round of balloting began in October. Those wondering about the multi-step voting process that leads to the awards shows will find a helpful infographic here.
As San Francisco Chapter President Michael Romanowski remarked at a meet-and-greet at Wynkoop Brewery on 10/29, “Though the GRAMMYs are the biggest thing we do – and the most lucrative; they pay for a lot of things we do – we’re about more than the GRAMMYs.” He told a group of 50 or so music-makers from the Front Range about the chapter system, the Producers and Engineers Wing, grant-making by the GRAMMY Foundation and the MusiCares charity.
Producers & Engineers Wing Event
The event followed a P&E invitational meeting hosted by Airshow in Boulder on Monday evening, where around 20 music-makers had a chance to audition recent work, discuss production, share feedback, and in general reduce the isolation that can characterize music production in a market like the Boulder/Denver area.
David Glasser kicked off the listening session in Airshow’s Studio C, reporting later, “People had a really good time. I know I heard some interesting work. We hope to be able to do something like this again.”
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- Producers and Engineers gathered for the 10/28 NARAS Listening Session held at Airshow in Boulder
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- Engineers and Producers shared recent work with the group at Airshow which promted lively discussion and feedback
Youth on Record
On Tuesday in Denver, guests learned about Youth on Record, an ambitious program for at-risk kids in Denver that employs professional musicians to teach for-credit music classes and provide a hands-on resource in its Youth Media Studio. As described by Executive Director Jami Duffy (jami@flobots.org), the program, started by Flobots, is supported by Denver Public Schools, Mile High United Way, Anschutz Foundation, and the Denver Housing Authority.
A Colorado Chapter?
NARAS members living along the Front Range are members of many chapters, including Texas, Pacific Northwest, and Nashville, but are supported by the San Francisco Chapter. Many members are eager to have a NARAS chapter or an interest group based in Colorado. Romanowski pointed out that it’s a big financial commitment by NARAS to support a chapter, and will take several steps. He urged Colorado-based members to first transfer their memberships to San Francisco in order to concentrate the Colorado presence, and then to work with chapter staff to develop other local initiatives like the October events. SF membership manager Analisa Lono (analisa.lono@grammy.com) is ready to hear ideas and help members change their chapter affiliation.
MusiCares Colorado Flood Relief Fund
Erica Krusen, senior director, visited from NARAS HQ in LA, to talk about the charity’s ongoing work for music-maker support and relief, and in particular the work of its Colorado Flood Relief Fund. The Fund has already helped 35 area musicians to replace instruments and gear, pay for relocation or touring expenses, and otherwise get back on their feet after the September floods. She stressed that musicians and other music-makers do not need to be NARAS members to apply for support. One confidential call starts the process: 800-687-4227.
The Fund is accepting donations right now.