While the means took a different form this time–an eBay auction–the end happily remained the same as the Association of Music Producers (AMP) raised money for Mr. Holland’s Opus, a foundation that supports music education and its many benefits through the donation and repair of musical instruments, which go to under-served schools, community music programs and individual students nationwide.
I first ran across AMP’s efforts to help Mr. Holland’s Opus in April 2004 when I attended the then AMP Mixer Awards. That evening there were a couple of prime highlights besides the awards themselves: a silent charity auction which generated money for Mr. Holland’s Opus; and a live performance by Drake Price, a talented jazz cellist who at the time was 18 years old.
Price represented the good work of Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. He applied to the foundation in ’98 for a cello. He was at a place in his studies where he needed a better instrument to progress in his pursuit of music, but his family could not afford a cello for him. Price received a cello from the Opus Foundation and went on to win assorted scholarships and awards.
Again in ’05, a portion of the proceeds generated by the AMP Awards was donated to Mr. Holland’s Opus. And this year, sans the AMP competition, the tradition still continued, albeit online as AMP auctioned off an ebony Les Paul guitar bearing the signatures of superstar band Gnarls Barkley and television and radio personality Adam Carolla. The instrument sold for $1,310 on eBay, with the money going to the Opus Foundation.
This was the second time the guitar was auctioned. The first time was at AMP’d UP!, the opening night music bash of Advertising Week 2006 in Manhattan last fall.
“We auctioned off the guitar at the concert, and the highest bidder never showed up to claim it,” said AMP president Tiffany Senft, president/executive producer at tonefarmer, a New York-based music/sound design shop. “We didn’t want to disappoint Mr. Holland’s Opus, so eBay was the answer.”
The guitar was provided by the manufacturer Gibson Guitars, which also donated a case for it.
The Gnarls Barkley bandmates, Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse, signed the front panel, as did concert emcee Carolla.
The Opus Foundation was inspired by the critically acclaimed motion picture Mr. Holland’s Opus, the story about the profound effect a dedicated music teacher had on generations of students. The film’s composer, Michael Kamen, founded Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation in ’96 as part of his commitment to the future of music education. Kamen passed away in ’03, but the legacy he left behind includes not only his amazing body of work, but also the foundation.
The organization was started to address the fact that across the nation, school and community music programs have been discontinued or severely diminished due to budget cuts. The positive effects of music education on children’s emotional and intellectual growth have been proven in numerous case studies.
For further info, log onto www.mhopus.com
Where The Buffalo Roam Signs Director Geordie Stephens For Spots and Branded Content
Production company Where The Buffalo Roam (WTBR) has signed director Geordie Stephens for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. Stephens is known for his subtle performance-driven comedic style, emphasizing art direction, production design, and cinematography. Previously represented by Tool of North America, Bullitt and FANCY, Stephens has a commercial portfolio which includes such global brands as Mini Cooper, HP, Toyota, Bud Light, and Burger King. A former agency creative, Stephens transitioned to the director’s chair following a lengthy career on the agency side as a creative at Butler, Shine & Stern and CP+B Miami, among other shops.
PJ Koll, WTBR co-founder and executive producer, said of Stephens, “His expertise and talent perfectly complement our creative strengths, enhancing our ability to deliver at the highest level. We feel incredibly fortunate to have him join the herd.”
“When I met Tim [WTBR exec producer Pries] and PJ, we immediately hit it off,” added Stephens. “They’re super sharp, funny, and good people who have assembled a very interesting mix of talent with different skills. As a director, I’m always looking for simple human truths that everyone can relate to in a humorous and smart way. The Buffalo team specializes in the small wink, so they get my sense of humor and will give me the platform to keep pushing great work forward.”
During his advertising career, Stephens spearheaded campaigns for IKEA, Truth, Virgin Atlantic, Burger King, Sprite, and Volkswagen. His work also won top prizes at the Cannes Lions and Clios and has been honored by numerous One Show and AICP awards.
Raised in an artistic community in California’s Marin County by his writer-mother and... Read More