On Saturday, April 27th, Community Music School of Springfield (CMSS) will host their 40th anniversary Spring Gala, the single largest fundraising event of the year in support of financial aid and scholarships for Springfield area youth. CMSS ranks among the top Community Music Schools in the country for the percentage of students who receive financial aid and scholarships, made possible through generous donations from the community.
This year’s event will take place in person at CMSS’ Robyn Newhouse Hall from 6:00 – 9:30 pm.
CMSS was recently awarded a matching grant of $40,000 for all funds raised for the 40th Anniversary Gala by an anonymous donor. All donations made before April 27 will be matched up to $40,000.
2024 Sponsors for the Spring Gala include UMASS Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship; Deliso Financial Services; Baystate Health; Flowers, Flowers!; St. Germain Investments; Bank of America Private Bank; The Collins Companies; Florence Bank; Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan and Blakesley; New England Orthopedic Surgeons; Diane Troderman; The Dowd Agencies; Martin Luther King Jr, Family Services; and The Republican.
In honor of 40 years of Community Music School of Springfield, the Gala theme is Sankofa, a Ghanaian expression symbolized by a mythical bird. CMSS 40th Anniversary Gala is a musical journey expressing CMSS’s vision of Sankofa: seeking wisdom from the past, standing firmly in the present, and working together to build a better future. Local Springfield artist Kaleigha “Kali” Green created the artwork for this year’s event.
“As we celebrate four decades of changing lives through music, we reflect on what a privilege it is to impact the lives of thousands of young people each week, year after year, lifting up their creative potential and fostering a deep sense of belonging in our community,” said Executive Director Eileen McCaffery.
All proceeds and donations received for the CMSS Spring Gala will be matched by the $40,000 Grant. Tickets and donations for the Spring Gals are $75 and can be purchased online at CommunityMusicSchool.com/event/gala.