Country Music Star Blake Shelton Partners With Music Will For Music Program Expansion In Ada, Oklahoma

Shelton Surprised His Alma Mater For a Q&A and Instrument Gifting on October 14

Bryan Powell, Music Will CPO & Blake Shelton With Ada High School Students and Faculty. Photo Credit: Christina Townsend

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Download video highlights hereOctober 14, 2024---Today, Country music superstar Blake Shelton made a surprise visit at Ada High School in Ada, Oklahoma to celebrate the launch and expansion of his hometown's music program on behalf of Music Will, the largest nonprofit music education program for schools in the United States.

The kick-off event---a surprise visit for the students---welcomed the full 550+ Ada High School student body to hear Blake Shelton share the story of his successful career and respond to student questions. It also celebrated the 10thanniversary of Shelton's platinum-selling hit album Bringing Back the Sunshine, which features Ada's town water tower on its album cover. Shelton spoke to students about growing up in Ada and what inspired him to pursue a life in music, while emphasizing the broad benefits of music education.

Shelton came on stage to cheers of excitement from the students at his alma mater, sharing "I wanted to come up and be a part of this because I think this is a really cool opportunity for any of you students out here that are interested in music. Whether it's a career path for you, something that you want to pursue, or you just want to learn how to play the guitar. Thank you to Music Will for what we're doing here today."

The funds for this program and future school presentations with Oklahoma-native musicians across the state are being made possible by longtime Music Will supporters, Jules Follett and Scott Boyd. Music Will is also providing acoustic guitars, electric guitars, a drum kit, mic stands, amps, strings & guitar strapsfor Ada High School---revealed to students at the event---all donated by the organization's supporters.

Music Will CEO Mike Wasserman said, "We're thrilled to be launching this new program in Blake Shelton's name, right here in his hometown of Ada, Oklahoma. It's an honor to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bringing Back the Sunshine with the community that inspired it. Thanks to the generosity of our donor, we're not only commemorating this special occasion, but also expanding music education opportunities for students in a way that will have a lasting impact. We're excited to see the positive changes this program will bring to schools here in Ada and beyond."

Music Will has long inspired young people with school visits by artists. Recent visitors have included singer/producer and multi-Grammy Award winner Babyface; songwriter/producer and multi-Grammy Award winner Pharrell Williams; acclaimed hip hop artist Wiz Khalifa, and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello.

Students of Ada High School. Bryan Powell, Music Will CPO & Blake Shelton Photo Credit: Christina Townsend

Music Will is dedicated to expanding access to popular music education for students across Oklahoma. In partnership with school districts, the Oklahoma State Department of Education, and the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, the nonprofit has provided professional development and curricular resources to over 100 teachers, impacting over 17,000 students in 42 districts to date.

Highlights include a districtwide initiative in Oklahoma City Public Schools, and support for "The Collective," Oklahoma's inaugural Popular Music Festival debuting in January 2025 to showcase student-driven original music from talented high school musicians statewide.

This instrument donation is part of Music Will's effort to broaden access to music education in Oklahoma, helping teachers bring popular music into their classrooms and empowering students to engage in music-making across the state.

ABOUT BLAKE SHELTON

Often called "Country Music's Chief Ambassador," Blake Shelton has been delivering country music to a diverse audience for more than 20 years. This Grand Ole Opry member's many successes include 28 #1 Country radio singles (beginning with his 2001 debut track "Austin"), 15 million albums sold and nearly 12 billion global on-demand streams. He is currently atop radio charts with "Pour Me a Drink," where he guests with multi-genre hitmaker Post Malone. Blake Shelton's many honors include 10 CMA awards, 11 CMTs, 6 ACMs, 3 AMAs, 6 People's Choice awards, and more.

Shelton plans a wide array of shows in 2025, starting with his "Live in Las Vegas" February residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. His "Friends and Heroes Tour" kicks off on February 27 in Lexington, KY, featuring Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, and Trace Adkins with very special guest Emily Ann Roberts. Shelton partners with Opry Entertainment Group in Ole Red, a restaurant and world-class music venue with locations in Nashville, TN; Gatlinburg, TN; Orlando, FL; Tishomingo, OK; and Las Vegas, NV.

A generous donor and fundraiser for charitable causes in his native Oklahoma, Blake donated more than $150,000 to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to help families dealing with food scarcity during the pandemic; he has championed the Oklahoma University's Children's Hospital Foundation and raised over $600,000 for the hospital; and, following Oklahoma's devastating tornado outbreak in 2013, he organized a relief concert, "Healing in the Heartland," which raised more than $6 million and was broadcast on NBC. Earlier this year, Shelton headlined a Tulsa, OK show called "Blake Shelton & Friends: Oklahoma is All for the Hall" featuring fellow Oklahomans Ronnie Dunn, Kristin Chenoweth, Vince Gill, and others, raising more then $750,000 for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. He is currently lending his name and his time to help raise money for the OKPOP Foundation as they work to build the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture in Tulsa. For more information, please visitwww.BlakeShelton.comand follow @BlakeShelton.

ABOUT MUSIC WILL

Music Will is the largest nonprofit music education program for schools in the United States. Since 2002, they have provided teacher training, curriculum, and instruments to over 6,000 schools across all 50 states, impacting over 1.8 million students to date. Their mission is to transform lives by transforming music education, while making it equitable and accessible to all students. Music Will's inclusive modern band curriculum is as diverse as the students we serve, spanning a wide range of genres, including rock, hip-hop, pop, R&B, Latin, country, and more. The program's inception dates back to 1996 when Dave Wish, a first-grade teacher in East Palo Alto, CA, began giving free guitar lessons to his students in response to the lack of a formal music education program at his school. What started in one elementary school in a single city has spawned a national movement, expanding to more than 1,000 school districts nationwide. Through partnerships with teachers, districts, departments of education, and industry leaders, the organization is expanding opportunities for students to engage in music programs that reflect their diversity and interests. Their collaboration with over 100 colleges and universities also ensures future teachers are prepared to foster student-led, culturally responsive learning from day one. Over the next five years, Music Will aims to impact 11 million students annually through our direct programs and Music as a Second Language® pedagogy. Learn more atmusicwill.org.

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