The D’Addario Foundation Announces ‘Back 2 School’ Benefit

The D’Addario Foundation has announced Back 2 School Class of 2019, which will take place at Los Angeles’s historic Palace Theatre on November 2. As a 501c3 non-profit, the money raised by The D’Addario Foundation at this benefit will provide kids access to amazing music programs, provide college assistance scholarships, and encourage more females to pick up guitars and rock out through D’Addario’s Girls In Music Initiative.

In partnership with BGS and Kensington Presents, Back 2 School will feature house band and Los Angeles institution, The Watkins Family Hour, with acclaimed producer, songwriter, and artist Mike Viola. A world-class cast of musicians will join Sara and Sean Watkins and their collaborative Family Hour crew over the course of the evening. Prolific songwriter and My Morning Jacket frontman, Jim James, platinum-selling musician and Emmy nominated actress Mandy Moore, silver screen troubadour John C Reilly, straight-shooting singer-songwriter LP, everyman Americana hero Langhorne Slim, Los Angeles’s own comedy-folk duo Garfunkel & Oates, six-string renaissance man Blake Mills, and one half of The Bird And The Bee, Inara George, will all take the stage to raise money for The D’Addario Foundation.

Fans should also keep an eye out for additional artist announcements in the coming weeks. Tickets, priced from $50 to $250, will be available on Friday, September 20, with a password-accessible pre-sale on Wednesday, September 18.

The D’Addario Foundation utilizes up to 10 percent of D’Addario’s net earnings each year to fund over 200 non-profit programs. D’Addario absorbs all operational costs, ensuring 100 percent of every dollar goes directly to support music programs globally.

“What differentiates us is our efforts to support highly immersive music programs.  On average our partners provide over 200 hours of instruction per student a year. Compare that to a student who might receive an hour instrument lesson once a week for the entire year.  That is four times the exposure to music instruction and its cognitive and social benefits,” says executive director Suzanne D’Addario Brouder.

VIP ticket options are also available for those who wish to upgrade their Back 2 School experience. VIP will include premium seating (center orchestra or first two rows of mezzanine), a VIP laminate, and a priority entry lane. Gold Circle VIP includes premium seating (first four rows of orchestra), a free drink/cocktail, an event poster, and the aforementioned VIP laminate and priority entry lane. All tickets are available here. 

“The bottom line is kids need lots more music as part of their education and your support makes that possible,” adds Brouder to further emphasize their mission statement.