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Dear Friends and Partners:
We’re excited to share many developments that have transpired since our last newsletter!
RYTMO Expands Its Program Throughout Anaheim
Due to generous funding from the Anaheim Community Foundation and the Samueli Foundation in the first quarter of 2024, RYTMO was able to expand its reach throughout Anaheim and is now facilitating programs for My Day Counts and Cancer Kinship, as well as continuing its collaboration with Vibrant Minds Charter School.
“We feel very honored that these local, highly-respected organizations chose RYTMO to invest in,” said Mike Anderson, Executive Director for RYTMO. “We now feel its our duty to pour our resources back into the community and are excited to be collaborating with more Anaheim-based organizations and also piloting our program to include adults. I’m hoping future funding will help us expand to include even more non-profits in Anaheim.”
My Day Counts, whose mission is to train people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities for success in life and work, has already begun conducting the program onsite. “For the very first time, our participants are experiencing an immersive and interactive music curriculum,” said Kinsley Whittet, VP of Program Operation/Administration at My Day Counts. “RYTMO’s music education has become a pivotal part of our Participant’s Week and is providing a creative outlet and an enormous amount of joy for everyone involved!”
My Day Counts will also be lending its facility to Cancer Kinship, whose mission is to empower cancer patients to confidently face the disease through peer mentorship, individualized and group support, survivor education and socialization, provided by caring and compassionate volunteers and staff.
“In the spirit of collaboration and community, Cancer Kinship is excited to join forces with RYTMO, My Day Counts, Painting Your Heart, and Vibrant Minds Charter School,” said Yoli Origel, Cancer Kinship’s CEO. “Together, we bolster mental well-being for all our clients, regardless of where they stand in their life's journey, by harnessing the transformative power of music. With this partnership, we forge connections and music experiences that nurture strength, resilience, and hope."
RYTMO is also currently teaching at Vibrant Minds Charter School, working with elementary school scholars on music technology and songwriting.
"We begin with the premise that all individuals have interests and talents that can be transformed into strengths through mentoring and character development," said Debbie Schroeder, Founding and Executive Director of Vibrant Minds. "Rather than focusing on deficits and "fixing" our scholars, there is greater power in focusing on their strengths and growing them. It takes a village to bring out and support the diverse strengths in scholars. We are most fortunate to be part of the RYTMO village, with an amazing group of collaborative nonprofit organizations who seek to support youth and adults through musical experiences."
Award-Winning Composer Mark Roos Joins RYTMO
We are excited to welcome the co-founder of Cutting Room Music Mark Roos to RYTMO. Mark is an award-winning composer for film, television, and advertising and will offer his expertise as a music consultant, as well as oversee RYTMO’s technology program. Mark has worked with some of entertainment’s leading directors on a variety of projects, including video games, full-feature and documentary films, websites, radio, television shows, commercials and advertising, and custom music production. He has composed for Trending Crimes, American Pickers, Catfish, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Snapped, Murder One, Microsoft Xbox, and Pixar. We are very honored to have someone of Mark’s caliber join RYTMO. “I'm thrilled to be able to contribute to the wonderful RYTMO programs," said Mark.
Berklee’s Summer Intensive Scholar Recipient Announced
On April 8, Berklee announced that RYTMO student Kai Rodriguez was selected as a scholarship recipient to attend its Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive in Boston. Kai is the 18th RYTMO student to have been selected to attend this prestigious program that attracts high school students from all over the world. Berklee has offered to cover 100% of Kai’s tuition but he will still need assistance covering the cost for room, board and air travel, which we estimate to be $5000. If you would like to help with the cost of this lifetime opportunity, please donate via the Go Fund Me account here, via Paypal on RYTMO's website, or to donate by check, please mail it to PO Box 1206 Anaheim, CA, 92815.
BMI Foundation’s Recognition of RYTMO
We were pleased to get a shout-out from the BMI Foundation on their social media sites during their Happy Music in Our School’s Month. In case you missed it, the March 6th post read: “To celebrate, we are highlighting @rytmo_music, one of our 2023 BMI Foundation New Music Grants recipients". To read the full post, visit our Instagram or Facebook pages.
Musically Me Event
After successfully co-hosting a Berklee-led Musically Me event at Vibrant Minds Charter School in 2023, Berklee’s City Music Network along with RYTMO will host another event on Tuesday, September 24th at Vibrant Minds Charter School. The Musically Me workshop focuses on middle to high school students who want to further their music education towards college or a career in music. Stay tuned for more details to come!
As always, we are very grateful for your interest in RYTMO!
RYTMO is not only a program, it’s a movement!
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