LOS ANGELES – Not every public school student has the opportunity to experience music classes or participate in a band, orchestra, or chorus. But nonprofit programs such as The School Tour are trying to help, and Shure Inc. is lending a helping hand as well.
"Our Company is dedicated to partnering with worthwhile initiatives like The School Tour," said Sandy LaMantia, Shure president and CEO. "We believe in the power of music and we're honored to be playing even a small part in this program, which is changing lives and making a positive impact on inner-city kids."
Since 2004, The School Tour, founded by Randy Hankins, has provided interactive shows that promote music, arts, and unity with the hopes of promoting positive messages and confront social issues. The nonprofit group invites pop, rock, R&B, rap artists and others to perform in front of more than 200,000 students and supporting audiences.
"Seeing these kids react to the shows is truly amazing," said The School Tour's Jud Nestor. "You just see them light up – seeing a live performance for the first time is a powerful experience and we're hearing from these kids that they're being inspired to pursue their own dreams in the music world. These shows let them know that no matter how rough their neighborhoods are, if they have the talent and the work ethic, they have the potential to really go places."
With performances not only at schools but also at county fairs, parades, convention centers, nightclubs, and other special events, the Tour's audio gear takes a beating, and after dozens of performances, its organizers realized they were in need of high-quality microphones that would stand the test of time.
Shure was one of a handful of manufacturers that stepped up and provided gear to help The Tour continue its mission. Shure handheld wireless systems and SM58 microphones are now helping bring The School Tour's performances to life.
"I can't say enough about Shure and their commitment to giving back to programs like ours," said Nestor. "We went from taped-together scraps of mics to the best of the best, and you can hear the difference. These young artists are now performing with top-of-the-line, professional gear – it's durable, it's reliable, and it just sounds great. We're so grateful to Shure for making it happen."
The School Tour also enables new artists to begin building their fan base while developing their craft. The performances enable up-and-coming artists to connect with other young people and show them that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.
Many of The School Tour's young artists have gone on to find professional success in the music world, signing with major record labels, touring with top artists, and even placing on the Billboard R&B sales charts.
For more information, please visit www.theschooltour.com and www.shure.com.
